A CHERISHED point-to-point trophy came back to a West Devon family on Saturday after a stunning victory at Buckfastleigh Races.

Brother Nero produced a powerful run-in to pip John Robin at the post in the ten-strong confined hunts maiden race and bring the glittering prize to owner and trainer Yvonne Watson, of Bridestowe.

And the win came exactly two years after Yvonne's stepfather, Roy 'Lucky' Luxton collected the same trophy with Uckerby Lad.

Sadly, Roy died in May 1998, but the tradition of racing success lives on with Uckerby Lad enjoying some spectacular wins on the Devon and Cornwall point-to-point circuit.

But Saturday belonged to Uckerby's stable-mate, Brother Nero, an 8-year-old dark bay gelding bought by Yvonne and husband Mark in Gloucestershire eight months ago.

Yvonne described the half-a-length win by evens favourite Brother Nero as 'amazing'.

'We had high hopes for him at Buckfastleigh but we were not sure what he would do — we didn't think the ground was right, he likes it good and firm and it was a bit soft. But he came over the last fence and caught the leader on the run-in.

'We weren't sure we had won until the official announcement — it was brilliant.

'It was one of those things that rarely happen in life — amazing, and lovely as well — we have always said Roy is with us all the time.'

Brother Nero, originally from New Zealand, is jointly trained by Jo Channon and was ridden by Colin Heard.

Colin almost snatched another victory on Saturday in the division two confined hunts maiden when Jimmy The One lost out to the favourite, Versicium.

Jimmy The One is owned by Sam Channon and Yvonne. It was only the second race over the jumps for the 6-year-old bay gelding, who is also originally from New Zealand.

Uckerby Lad was favourite in the last race of the day, the farriers' confined hunts, but Colin Heard pulled the horse up on the approach to the last fence.

Yvonne said: 'Uckerby had missed a week's training because he hurt his fetlock. We didn't expect great things, but we put him in to see how he's doing. Colin pulled him up because he didn't want to push him further.'

The winner was second favourite Brown Robber, ridden by Tim Dennis and owned by Mrs Sarah Batchelor.

In the restricted division one, Soloman's Sister, ridden by Mandy Hand, owned by Mrs Sandra Turner and trained by George Turner, of Lydford, came second, four lengths behind favourite Horus.

Mandy Hand enjoyed victory in the restricted division two on No More Nice Guy.

Each winner was presented with a horse-blanket in green and gold, the colours of Dart Vale and South Pool Harriers who also produced a souvenir racecard to mark the millennium.