NOEL Williams was left stunned after Briery Queen was awarded the EBF & TBA Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury in the stewards’ room – giving him the biggest success of his three-year training career.

The Blewbury handler saw the seven-year-old lose out by a nose to the Harry Fry-trained Lady Of Lamanver in the Listed limited handicap, but only after his charge had been hampered as Aidan Coleman’s mount edged right after the last flight.

A stewards’ enquiry was called, and they deemed the interference – during which Briery Queen’s rider, Barry Geraghty, lost an iron – had cost the 11-4 favourite the £22,780 first prize and reversed the placings.

Williams said: “Even regardless before the announcement came out I was thrilled with her.

“Obviously I was a bit gutted that she had just missed out, but I had kind of convinced myself that they wouldn’t give it to us, so I was stunned when they turned it around.”

It was a tenth winner of the season for Williams, who is set to move from White Shoot Stables across Blewbury to Churn Stables next month.

“We have had a good season, but we needed to win a decent pot like that,” he added.

“She has been my flagbearer and it shows everyone that we can mix it at the top table when we have got the horse to do it.”

On the Flat, Mobsta claimed a Listed prize for West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon when ploughing through the Doncaster mud to take the six-furlong Cammidge Trophy by a length from Suedois under Silvestre de Sousa.

“He’s got so much talent and I can’t wait to find out how good he can be because he’s had problems in the past,” said Channon.

It completed an 89-1 across-the-card double after Stringybark Creek had provided the yard with their first juvenile winner of the campaign by taking a five-furlong novice stakes at Kempton in the hands of Charlie Bishop.

Blewbury trainer Eve Johnson Houghton was also on the mark when Spinning Pearl opened her account in a maiden fillies’ stakes at Lingfield, with John Fahy on board.

Meanwhile, Channon must keep his fingers crossed if Knock House is to get a run in Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree.

The seven-year-old, who finished fourth at last month’s Cheltenham Festival is No 42 on the list, with only the top 40 to get a run.