GERALDINE Rees, the first lady to get round in the Grand National when eighth on Cheers in 1982, saddled her first winner as a trainer when Piccolo Cativo landed the opener at Hamilton Park last night.

Mrs Rees had only a handful of runners since taking over the licence from her father Jimmy Wilson in February and she was delighted after the 33-1 chance obliged in the hands of stable apprentice Angela Hartley.

She said: ''I'm on cloud nine. I've had a few losers but I tried not to let it get me down as I felt the winner would come eventually.''

Though in possession of a dual-purpose licence, Mrs Rees is concentrating on the Flat and has 16 horses in training at her Sollom base near Preston.