PERSONA Pride, ridden by Julian Pritchard, scored a popular victory in the Welsh Border Area Confined Championship race at the Golden Valley point to point fixture at Bredwardine, recording a battling length-and-a-half victory over the favourite Asthefellasays.

Leading from the outset, Pritchard got his mount jumping superbly but early on the final circuit had Richard Burton aboard Asthefellasays pushing. Despite being challenged all the way up the home straight, Persona Pride stayed on well to win for Kingsland-based owners Percy and Sonia Priday and trainer Billy Brown.

For many years the couple ran The Corners Inn at Kingsland and raced the dam of Persona Pride, Le Jour Fortune, as a delighted Sonia Priday explained: "His mother won her Maiden race at this course, but we're over the moon about this win."

Pritchard was also a beneficiary of an injury to Adrian Wintle, who sustained a broken ankle in a division of the Restricted race, as he came in for his ride aboard Northern Deal in the Men's Open race. This was another pillar-to-post win for the Dick Baimbridge trained favourite.

Snatching a five-length lead at the start, Pritchard forced the pace on the rain-softened ground and, after he had seen off the challenge of Sir Dante, it was left to Welsh challenger General Custer and Evan Williams to chase home the winner by 20 lengths.

Pritchard rounded off the day by taking the final Maiden race aboard the Jelly Nolan trained Catechist but leading rider of the season Burton still extended his lead in the Championship as he scored a double on The Unamed Man and Donrico.

The heavy rain caused a number of fallers early on in the meeting and, after representations from some jockeys, the stewards reduced the safety factor, causing more races to be divided.

RESULTS

Members: 1 Arctic King (S Lloyd) 2/5 F, 2 Queen of the Daisies 33/1, 3 Go Man 10/1. 5 ran.

Restricted, Div 1: 1 The Unamed Man (R Burton) 3/1, 2 Glacial Boy 12/1, 3 River Ground 8/1 13 ran.

Div 2, part 1: 1 Galexy Minstrel (S Phizackalea) 5/1, 2 Hydemilla 4/1, 3 It's a Handful 6/1. 9 ran.

Div 2, part 2: 1 Fair Charmer (I Thompson) 6/4 F, 2 Hill Sprite 12/1. Only 2 finished. 9 ran.

Open: 1 Northern Deal (J Pritchard) 2/5 F, 2 General Custer 9/4, 3 Sir Dante 16/1. 12 ran.

Ladies, Div 1: 1 Hoodwinker (J Williams) 3/1, 2 Zingibar 20/1, 3 De Chelly 14/1. 9 ran.

Div 2: 1 Zamahareeer (T Harrison) 3/1, 2 Pride of Kashmir 4/1, 3 Flockmaster 5/2 F. 8 ran.

Welsh Border Area Championship Confined: 1 Persona Pride (J Pritchard) 5/1, 2 Asthefellasays 1/3 F, 3. Wild Edric 5/1. 6 ran.

Maiden 5, 6, 7 yo, Div 1: 1. Donrico(R Burton) Evs F, 2 Wind on the Common 6/1, 3 Darcy Mae 14/1, 10 ran.

Div 2: 1 Quatermas (D Mansell) 2/1 F, 2 Cracked Ice 7/1. Only 2 finished. 9 ran.

Maiden 8 yo +, Div 1: 1 Boozi Birthday (F Hutsby) 4/1, 2 Uncle Ada 4/6 F. Only 2 finished. 10 ran.

Div 2: 1 Catechist (J Pritchard) 7/2, 2 Almost a Day 7/2, 3 Snitton Salvo 7/1. 9 ran.