RICHARD Fahey, after several placed efforts at Epsom, picked up the thread again on Saturday when Chester proved to be his most profitable venue. Adam McNamara completed a double on Starlight Romance and Megan Lily for the prolific Yorkshire-based trainer.

Fahey had the seven-furlong Liverpool Gin Handicap well tapped, with 100/30 favourite Starlight Romance producing a strong late run to collar stable-companion Vona and promising apprentice Connor Murtagh in the dying strides. Apart from a stable full of equine talent, Fahey has gifted jockeys to spare as well.

“Sammy Jo Bell told me how to ride Starlight Romance,” McNamara said with a smile. “She said she jumps and travels well and she’s tough, so keep at her.”

Megan Lily improved in the autumn of her first season and Fahey sent her to France, enlisting the help of Thierry Jarnet. A Dragon Pulse filly, she ran very well behind the speedy Copper Knight at the May meeting here and obliged at 7/2 this time, reeling in 2/1 favourite Poet’s Society inside the final furlong to score by half a length.

Mark Johnston was responsible for the runner-up, who had finished third in a decent handicap won by Impart at Ripon three days previously. His horses continue to thrive and Cardsharp paid Epsom conqueror De Bruyne Horse a handsome compliment by winning well at Beverley on Saturday. Both he and Poet’s Society are expected to run at Royal Ascot.

The 59th renewal of the Pertemps Network Champion Foxhunters Chase at Stratford last Friday produced something of a surprise when 16/1 chance Young Hurricane, brought with a well-timed run by Mr John Dawson, proved just too good for Balnaslow and Wonderful Charm.

With the second ridden by Mr Derek O’Connor and the third by Sam Waley-Cohen, it was no surprise that they dominated the pre-race market. However, neither was foot-perfect and Wonderful Charm ran on all too late in his bid to justify 11/8 favouritism. Young Hurricane led at the last before pulling two lengths clear.

The winner is trained in North Yorkshire by Guy Brewer. The Champion Novices’ event went to 8/1 chance Now Ben, trained by Philip Rowley and ridden by Mr Alex Edwards.

Earlier on Friday, Society Ranger ran out an easy winner at Wolverhampton for Laois trainer Shane Duffy. Sent off the 5/2 favourite, the four-year-old came off a fast pace to pull five lengths clear. He now has two wins from two runs at the all-weather track.