DARN GOOD came good once again for local owner-breeder John Garrett and his partner Patricia Conway following a couple of years' absence from the winner's enclosure.

Trained by Alan King at Barbury Castle and ridden by stable jockey Robert Thornton, the five-year-old gelding won the long distance maiden hurdle at Hereford much to the delight of his Broad Town owners.

Darn Good won three races on the Flat two seasons ago when trained by Richard Hannon, but then developed wind trouble.

His owner explained: "He had an operation for a soft palate while with Richard to ease his breathing, but it didn't seem to work as the problem came back a while later after being switched to Alan King's yard to try his hand over obstacles.

"Alan King suggested that he could benefit from having a tube inserted in his neck and it seemed to have done the trick.

"He ran fourth on his return to the course and then finished second at Ludlow, and I suppose you could say he was entitled to be odds on for the Hereford race.

"I didn't have a bet, but it was great to see him back to form and although coming under a bit of pressure four out he responded well and eventually won with a bit to spare.

"It has been a good week for us with Mountain Approach, a horse we bred and sold on from our mare Fortunes Course, winning a bumper at Worcester trained by Jean-Rne Auvray at Lambourn."

The winning trainer told Turf Talk: "Mark Pitman sent her to the sales and I liked the look of her so I bought her for 500 guineas and had an owner for her straight away.

"Jockey William Kennedy gave her a good ride and she won well. We will build her up over the season and hopefully she will do well over hurdles in the autumn."

It has been a busy time for the breeders, as another of their recruits, a three-year-old filly named Broad Town Girl, has just been put into training with Heidi Sweeting at Marlborough.

"We have kept a quarter share in her and hopefully she will follow in the footsteps of the rest of the family," he added.

The former Newport Street accountant has been associated with racing for around 20 years, mostly jumpers with former Broad Hinton trainer Jeff King.

He added: "One of the most successful horses we had was Fortunes Course. She won nine times and was placed on 23 other occasions during her racing career.

"Now 17-years-old she has just produced a foal who is is a full sister to Mountain Approach, enabling us to keep the family tree going.

"By Midnight Legend, it's the fourth filly the mare has had. She never seems to produce a colt."