James Moffatt rediscovered that winning feeling at Cartmel Racecourse during The Mail Ladies Evening, as Boruma produced a storming finish to take the opening race of the meeting, the Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by Brian Hughes, who’d already had three previous winners at the course this year, Boruma remained in contention during the race behind pre-race favourite Bazarov and Ritual Of Senses before kicking on after the second to last hurdle.

From there, there was no stopping the nine-year-old gelding as he ate up the ground, softened by the persistent rain, for the remainder, eventually galloping 11 lengths clear of Green Zone and Danny McMenamin.

It was Boruma’s third winning run at Cartmel and the second time in three years he has won this race, while for Moffatt, this was his 47th winner on his ‘home’ track as a jockey or trainer.

Moffatt said: “Boruma has been very good to us and he’s dropped to his winning mark again.

“He felt so well yesterday. I don’t normally like running them quick, but he felt so well yesterday morning that we had to declare him.

“Obviously, Brian has taken the race by the scruff of the neck - he stays further and he’s got a good gallop. He’s won a bit far and he’s probably going to go up a bit in the weights. We’ll have to take that on the chin for next time.”

Boruma had previously finished third last Saturday with Barrow’s Charlotte Jones, who also had a ride in the same race with another of Moffatt’s stable, Lough Kent.

Jones rode Lough Kent to victory at Perth two weeks ago and although the ten-year-old wasn’t in contention this time, a strong finish allowed him to come in sixth out of the 11 runners.

Jones, who also had one other ride on the night, said: “Unfortunately, I don’t really think he got the trip on that ground.

“He didn’t really jump as fluently as he did at Perth, so that was a bit gutting, but at least we’ve got a horse back in one piece.

“I’m pleased the Boruma’s won because we obviously work hard as a team in the yard, so it’s brilliant news. Obviously, I’d like to be the one riding the winners, but I’m happy that we’re getting them because it’s a real boost to everyone’s morale.”

While Boruma’s margin of victory was pretty decisive, the finishes in the next two races were much tighter, especially in the Mares’ Selling Handicap Hurdle, which went to a photo finish.

It was won by a head by Kilcullen Lady, with jockey Billy Garritty, as she just pipped Kildaven Spider and Henry Brooke in a race where she was always amongst the leaders.

Sean Quinlan, who won the £20,000 Handicap Hurdle on Cairnshill last Saturday, claimed his second Cartmel winner of the year on Zolfo, who chased down Olivers Gold brilliantly on the run-in.

Jokers And Rogues, with Conor O’Farrell, had set the pace until the last half-mile but Zolfo timed his charge to perfection to take it by half a length and give trainer Jennie Candish the win.

French horse Deyrann De Carjac almost caused a pile-up on the third to last jump in the Novices’ Hurdle, but regained his composure with jockey Wayne Hutchinson to ease to victory.

Only three of the six runners in the Open Hunters’ Chase actually finished the race, with the rest of the field pulling up during its duration. It was eventually taken by Carter McKay, ridden by Lilly Pinchin.

Towards the end of the evening, Moffatt unfortunately had to pull Start Seven out of the Class 5 Handicap Hurdle, which was sponsored by LocaliQ, meaning Jones’ wait for her fourth Cartmel winner continued.

There was another French horse first past the post as Riviere Argentee, ridden by Kevin Jones, held off a strong challenge from Richard Strauss, with Thomas Dowson, to win by four lengths.