Trainer John Wade left himself tantalisingly close to his target of £100,000 prize money for the campaign as Ryminster got up close home in the Interskygroup.com Handicap Chase at Newcastle.
The 9-2 joint-favourite was only fourth at the final fence, about six lengths adrift of the leader Ocarina who held a two-and-a-half-length lead.
He was being ridden along too, but kept responding for Brian Hughes and collared Ocarina in the last few strides to score by half a length.
Wade, who also owns and bred Ryminster, said: "We are only about £1,300 short now. Brian said he was going to hold the horse up this time and come as late as possible and he gave him a super ride."
Czech-born Jakub Kocman punched the air in delight as Bonnie Rock gave him the first success of his career on only his second ride in Britain in the Saltwell Signs Conditional Jockeys' Mares Only Handicap Hurdle.
The 9-2 joint-favourite was on a hat-trick mission and after striking the front three out she kept up the gallop to beat Mini Minster by a comfortable length.
Winning trainer George Charlton's father, Alistair, said: "He went to the racing school at Newmarket and they said he was brilliant, but then he was sent home because he could not understand the instructors.
"He had had only two rides back home and has been with us for six months. I think he is a very good rider."
Stravaigin had not had much luck on his recent appearances, but backed from 20-1 to 12-1 he put in a clear round and snatched the Guinness Handicap Hurdle out of the fire in the hands of Richard McGrath, who gave up his two remaining rides because he felt unwell.
Winning trainer Jim Goldie said: "Stravaigin had an argument with a fence at Ayr on his last run but one, so we put him back over hurdles last time but he got bogged down in the mud back at Ayr.
"I think the better ground helped him here."
Shane Byrne, who rode 11 winners as an amateur, gained his first success as a conditional when giving the Sue Smith-trained Mill Side a good ride to win the St. James Place Novices' Hurdle by two and a half lengths from My Arch.
Trainer James Ewart and amateur Harry Haynes had just missed out with Ocarina earlier, but went one better when course winner 4-1 chance Raining Horse defied top weight in the James Fletcher Marquee And Pavilion Hire Novices' Handicap Chase.
Ewart said: "This ground was dead, he wants some life in it and he should get it like that for his next run in a £20,000 novices' handicap at Ayr on April 19, that is the sort of race we want to be going for."
Oliver Greenall, deputising for his brother Thomas, who was injured in a bad fall at Sedgefield on Tuesday, won the hunter chase on the Howard Johnson-trained Andy Anshan.
More news from SportingLife.com
Full racecards from SportingLife.com
Fast and full results from SportingLife.com
