BOOKIES' favourite Ice Tea melted in the heat, allowing James Pine to romp home in The Pegasus Club Members Race at Siddington point-to-point on Saturday.

Ridden by Annabel Roberts, the hunter chaser - who won the Colin Nash Memorial Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in 2008 – completed the three-mile race in 6min 8sec, crossing the finishing line ahead of Autumn Red and Ice Tea in a thrilling three-horse race.

The winner's owner, George Threlfall, said he was 'thrilled' by the win. “I won the Pegasus Club show jumping many years ago,” he said. “This is my first win over jumps.”

Mr Threlfall praised the performance of James Pine, who he said ran a 'fantastic' race, and of Annabel Roberts, who ‘rode it beautifully’.

The firm going limited the number of runners, but drew a bumper crowd of racing fanatics and families alike.

Champagne picnics served from wicker baskets were the order of the day as racegoers enjoyed the warmest weekend of 2012 – with temperatures into the 20s.

The Pegasus Club Members Race is unique in point-to-point racing, as it is open only to members of the The Pegasus Club - a members’ club for legal professionals formed in 1895 – or their spouses or descendants.

Prizes were presented to the owner and jockey by Chris Graham, of race sponsors Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester.