ANDREW James was elated after clinching his fourth Hackwood Park win in the big Easter Monday point-to-point.

Riding the family horse Finnigan's Lot in the opening hunt race on a six-race card, he destroyed the field to win by a distance.

"It was an unbelievable ride," said the jockey. "It was certainly the best ride I've ever had. He jumped out of his skin.

"I was holding him back all the way. At the second last fence he picked up and again after the last. He went over the fences so perfectly."

James, a 27-year-old publisher, is also an amateur boxer, fighting at welterweight, and a marathon runner and will be running the London Marathon later this month trying to improve an impressive personal best of 2hr 38min.

The Oxford University ABC member last fought four weeks ago but lost by a single point.

He has won the Vine and Craven hunt race twice before on Espy, another family horse trained at the family yard in Lambourn.

Finnigan's Lot, who had his only other win in 2000, was second at the start of the season at Larkhill but was pulled up twice in two subsequent outings.

James' brother Ed, who trains Finnigan's Lot after buying him as a three-year-old, said: "It was really, really good. We'll see how he comes out of this before we decide whether he'll run again this season.

Ed has taken over the licence from his father Charlie and has 34 wins under Rules from his 20-strong yard.

The winner of the main race, the mixed open, was Lord Esker, ridden by Hackwood favourite Tim Underwood, who also trains the gelding.

Entries secretary Jackie Porter said: "We had a record entry and a record number of runners. The weather was excellent and the ground was perfect."

Results (in order 1, 2, 3):- Hunt race: Finnigan's Lot (A James), Minstrel's Quay, Basingcroft. Runners: 4. Time: 6min 39sec. Dist: Distance, 2l.

Novice riders' race: Miners Dance (C Studd), Hawaiian Youth, Glenpine. Runners: 10. Time: 6:23. Dist: 8l, 4l.

Mixed open: Lord Esker (T Underwood), Prince Sandrovitch, Breteche. Runners: 4 Time: 6m 26s Dist: 3L & 6L

Maiden race: Greg's Profiles (F Coady), Blue And Royal, Brain Of Rosehill. Runners: 11. Time: 6:26. Dist: 6l, 25.

Confined hunts: L'Opera (D Dunsdon), Bally Wirral, Legal Storm. Runners: 10. Time: 6:16. Dist: 4l, 5l.

Restricted race: Sir Cumference (J Barnes), Mr Fitz. Only 2 finished. Runners: 4. Time: 6:21. Dist: 2l.