The Stan James Winners lived up to their name at the last attempt as Brighton started its season last night.

The Winners, a five-strong syndicate, celebrated the 16-1 victory by Stan's Girl in the opening race.

The two-year-old filly had let them down in its eight previous runs but obliged with Findon jockey Paul Doe on board.

The syndicate was formed after betting shop chain Stan James ran a competition to win a racehorse for a year.

John Lang, Janet Wood, Alan Hay, John Plant and Des O'Reilly each won a 20 per cent share in the horse bought by former football star Mick Channon.

Channon was given £35,000 to spend by Stan James and he returned £20,000 of it.

But it seemed as though a win was beyond Stan's Girl in run-outs at Warwick, Haydock, Ripon, Windsor, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Lingfield and Southall.

Wood joked: "I think we just about made our stake money back with the win at Brighton."

Stan's Girl won £1,272 for the owners who were given a final chance to become winners after Stan James extended their ownership deal for one last race.

The ownership of the horse trained by Ian Wood at Upper Lambourn now reverts to Stan James.

But John Lang said: "We've had a lot of fun following our horse."

Steve Walsh, spokesman for Stan James, said: "Although we called the syndicate Winners there were no guarantees and I must admit I'd given up on Stan's Girl winning for them. We are delighted."

Stan's Girl also proved lucky for jockey Doe, who had not won for an estimated six months.

But Doe almost missed the race. He said: "I had to travel from Folkestone and got held up - it was a close run thing.

"She won well and I'm pleased for the owners. She was going at quite a pace but I was told that if she wanted to go quickly, then that was fine.

"I don't know how long it has been since I last rode a winner but I'm pleased to be off the mark."

Meanwhile, veteran Lewes trainer Tom McGovern watched his last ever horse, Misbehaviour, come in third behind winner Mr Whizz in the 6.35.

McGovern has retired after a quadruple heart bypass.

He said: "I was pleased with the way Misbehaviour ran. He's been a good servant.

"I had my bypass a few months ago and thought somebody was trying to tell me something. I've enjoyed the day."

McGovern, 73, had been training for 17 years and saddled Eastwell Hall to fourth place in the Cesarewitch at 100-1 six years ago.

An estimated 2,500 spectators turned up for Brighton's earliest ever start to the season as the evening sun bathed the coastal course.

Eloise Penny, a commercial executive, said: "We were happy to put on the meeting and I think it went off well.

"We hope the success of the meeting will encourage people to come back and now we're preparing for our Albion Raceday on Sunday."

The only note of dissent came from TV commentator John McCririck.

All the races were for lower class horses - banded - and McCririck believes Brighton should have "mixed it up with some maidens and handicaps".

He said: "Having all the banded on one card means that it is such a low grade of racing with low prize money. It is a depressing card, betting shop fodder."