GRAND National glory runs in the family for Maplas's father-and-son Guy and Harry Myddelton - so it was highly appropriate they should win the Home Counties version at a point-to-point meeting in Oxfordshire.

Back in 1950, Guy's grandmother, Lurline Brotherton, owned the winner of the Aintree spectacular when Freebooter claimed a famous victory in front of a crowd of almost 500,000.

Wind the clock forward 72 years to last Sunday, and the more genteel surroundings of the Kimblewick Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount, and Harry partnered Polydora to victory for his father, who owns the 10-year-old, in the Ineos Grenadier Home Counties Grand National Mixed Open.

Wearing the same colours as Jimmy Power sported on Freebooter, Harry made virtually all the running on the Alan Hill-trained gelding in the four-mile marathon as his lone rival, Skipthecuddles, stalked him.

Whitchurch Herald: The Ineos Home Counties Grand National at the Kimblewick Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Kingston Blount racecourseOxfordshire On Sunday 27th March 2022. Picture by Neale Blackburn (chasdog.com).

Polydora - Harry Myddleton winners of the Ineos Home Counties Grand National at the Kimblewick Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Kingston Blount racecourse. Picture by Neale Blackburn (chasdog.com).

The decisive moment came when Polydora flew the fifth-last fence while Skipthecuddles got it all wrong and did well to stand up with Gina Andrews sitting tight.

That left Harry's mount in full command, and they stretched clear to win by 25 lengths.

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The 21-year-old rider, who is studying for a degree in real estate at Oxford Brookes University, said: "It's always class to ride a winner in those colours, even if it's not quite 'the Grand National' today. He had his ears pricked all the way and jumped well."

Guy added: "They are my grandmother Mrs L Brotherton's colours. She had a lot of horses including Freebooter, who won the 1950 Grand National and ran in it three times.

Whitchurch Herald: The Ineos Home Counties Grand National at the Kimblewick Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Kingston Blount racecourseOxfordshire On Sunday 27th March 2022. Picture by Neale Blackburn (chasdog.com).

Polydora - Harry Myddleton winners of the Ineos Home Counties Grand National at the Kimblewick Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Kingston Blount racecourse. Picture by Neale Blackburn (chasdog.com).

"Harry went through pony racing and I've had horses in training for a long time at various places. Harry had his first ride at 16 on Mister Splodge for Oliver Greenall. It made sense when he went to Oxford Brookes to go to a trainer who was closer to where he is now."

Hill, who trains just down the road from the course at Aston Rowant, was winning the Sandhurst feature race for the seventh time.

He said: "It has been lucky for us. It just shows I train slow horses! Harry got off him and said the horse bounced off the ground and loved it."

Polydora could now go for the series final at Cheltenham on April 29, and Hill added: "The aim is to run in it. It would be good fun, and Harry is excited about riding there. He comes in and works hard and his riding is improving all the time."