JONATHAN Geake enjoyed the greatest success of his fledgling career as a trainer when Penneyrose Bay won Newbury's feature race on Saturday, the EBF Mares National Hunt Novices Handicap Hurdle Final.

The hardest job for Geake however had been trying to persuade the owner, Sir Christopher Wates, into running the six-year-old! He feared she'd be outclassed but Penneyrose Bay proved otherwise, leading from start to finish over the two-mile five-furlong trip to scoop the £29,000 first prize at odds of 15-2.

Though the pack closed as they neared the third last, she ran on strongly to beat Early Start by a comfortable three-and-a-half lengths.

Geake, who took over from his father-in-law Toby Balding at Kimpton near Andover in November, was thrilled by her performance.

"She had to qualify for the race, which she did early on, and on her last run at Exeter demonstrated she loved good ground. Sir Christopher questioned whether she was good enough but I kept telling him she was. She saw it out really well and is tough as old boots."

Sir Christopher admitted he had been pessimistic. "I was really concerned she hadn't done enough to earn her place but, from now on, I'll leave it to the trainer!"

Penneyrose Bay was superbly ridden by Seamus Durack, still hampered by a spiral fracture of the finger sustained two weeks ago.

Plans for the mare are now fluid. The owner thinks she has done enough for the season but Geake might let her have one last hurrah at Cheltenham next week in a novice handicap.

Fellow Hampshire trainer David Elsworth provided the shock of the meeting when Hi Humpfree belied odds of 66-1 to win the flat race.

He had not been sighted on two previous outings but Jeannie Brown, representing Elsworth, reported he had run green on his debut at Kempton and then hated the ground at Worcester.

This completed a Hampshire treble as, in the previous race, Briareus, saddled by Andrew Balding at Kingsclere, won the novice hurdle at odds of 3-1.