THE new Hereford racing season opened in dramatic fashion last week when three fallers in the opening Wormbridge Novices Hurdle saw the race won by 16/1 outsider Sovereign, trained by John Panvert who had made the long journey from Kent, writes GRAHAM SAVEKER.

The odds-on favourite Karowna seemed to have the race in the bag only to fall at the final hurdle bringing down closest pursuer Delaware.

On the Run also fell trying to avoid the final hurdle chaos so leaving Sovereign to come home a 14 length winner from the only other finisher Fantail.

Panvert confirmed that the four-hour journey back to his home base at Hildenborough would now seem only a short trip but joked: "I think I'll have to buy a lottery ticket on the way home after that!"

Trainer Steve Brookshaw, out of luck with his Karowna in the first race, had compensation in the Malvern Link Handicap Chase when his Brilliant Star under a typical Tony McCoy ride took the spoils.

McCoy had his mount at the head of the nine runner field from early on and despite a mistake at the last they cruised home seven-length winners from the Robert Thornton-ridden and Kim Bailey-trained Homme De Fer.

The meeting had its regular Martin Pipe winner when Whiskey Chaser, ridden by Rodi Greene who has been in good form over the summer season, easily took the Border Junior Selling Hurdle by a four-length distance.

Connections were forced to go to 10,250 gns at the subsequent auction to retain the three-year-old filly.

Caerphilly trainer Bernard Llewellyn sent out his 100th career winner when Galloping Guns took the Aconbury Novices Handicap Chase under Ollie McPhail.

Bowden Surprise and Pat Flynn threw down a challenge at the second last fence.

But Galloping Guns had too much firepower and McPhail's mount stayed on to win by two lengths.