Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy clean up as Flat returns at Newbury Racecourse

The Flat season returned to Newbury Racecourse on Friday and Saturday to a great reception.

A bumper crowd was in attendance as the action got underway on Friday afternoon.

There was a local winner straight away, as Clive Cox’s Inca Heights won the Maiden Stakes.

He beat Richard Hannon’s 3/1 favourite Private Affair, before strong favourite Consecrated won the second race from odds of 5/2.

Another local win followed, as Andrew Balding sealed the win in the 15:03 Fillies' Stakes.

Oisin Murphy rode Serenity Prayer to the win, a 2/1 joint favourite who stayed on well.

Gethin came home strongly at 15:37 to give Owen Burrows a win next, before Ralph Beckett’s Moon Over Miami took a victory at 16:10.

There was a shock in the last race of the day, as Havanagreattime sealed a win from odds of 20/1 as the opening day came to a close.

Andrew Balding already had a win under his belt by Saturday morning, and the rest of the meeting would well and truly belong to the Kingsclere trainer.

He won the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at 13:25 thanks to Divina Grace, who provided excitement from odds of 14/1.

Hollie Doyle would ride Duty First to the win in the second race of the day, another outsider at 33/1.

Balding was back at it again at 14:35, as 8/1 Jonquil took home the Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes thanks to Oisin Murphy’s skilful ride.

Ebt's Guard won the fourth race of the day from a big price of 25/1, before Balding struck again.

Murphy worked his magic again, piloting Point Of Contact to a Maiden Stakes victory.

One more win was yet to come for Park House Stables, as Furthur won the penultimate race of the day to seal their fifth win of the weekend.