CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon was thrilled to see Snow Leopardess give him his first winner in France with a narrow success at Auteuil.

His enterprising move to let the five-year-old grey mare make her seasonal reappearance at the Parisian track paid off in style.

She landed the Prix Grandlieu – a conditions hurdle over an extended two miles and three furlongs.

With his mount appreciating the soft ground, James Reveley produced the 8-5 favourite to get up close home and claim the £20,512 first prize by three-quarters of a length from Corazones.

“It is great when a plan comes together,” said Longsdon (pictured).

“We decided on James Reveley to ride as he is one of the top jump jockeys in France, so he would have an advantage of knowing the course and the style of racing.”

Snow Leopardess has now won five of her eight starts, with victories in three countries, having also triumphed at Gowran Park in Ireland, as well as at Doncaster twice and Newbury.

Longsdon was back in the winner’s enclosure in this country, when Treackle Tart romped home at Worcester.

The five-year-old mare came home 11 lengths clear of Rio Bravo in a novices’ hurdle over two and a half miles under Paul O’Brien.

Shaun Lycett, who moved his string to Leafield last month, also struck at the Midlands track when course specialist Hallings Comet recorded a sixth win at the venue.

Previously at Little Rissington, near Bourton-on-the-Water, Lycett is now based alongside Mark Rimell’s yard.

Hallings Comet had provided him with a winner with his first runner from his new stables, when landing a two-mile handicap hurdle at Worcester three weeks ago.

And stepping up half-a-mile in trip, the eight-year-old gelding made all the running in the hands of Marc Goldstein to come home an easy four-lengths winner from Canton Prince.