HEREFORDSHIRE trainers were to the fore at Ludlow races last week with Tom Symonds, Richard Lee and Venetia Williams all scoring at the Shropshire track.
Lee and Williams shared a winner after an exciting three-mile handicap chase.
Racegoers saw a thrilling finish as the Richard Lee-trained Milo Milan rallied when seemingly beaten over the final two fences to catch the Williams-trained Rydalis in the shadow of the post.
Williams has been carrying all before her recently en route to, potentially, her best-ever season.
But Lee, from his Byton base, had astutely picked the race out for his eight-year-old son of Milan and, under a fine ride from Michael Nolan, deservedly shared the spoils. After much deliberation, the judge called a dead-heat, with Father Probus a further three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third place.
Tom Symonds has been sending out a steady stream of winners from his Hoarwithy base over recent weeks and Midnight Belle, in the hands of rider Ben Poste, won the two-mile-five-furlong mares hurdle to continue his fine form.
Staying on well in the 11-runner race, Midnight Belle triumphed by three-and-a-quarter lengths over her rivals and could score again.
Ludlow trainer Henry Daly was also back in the winner’s enclosure following the win of Heronshaw in the two-mile-five-furlong Maiden hurdle, ridden by Robert Thornton.
Well supported in the betting market beforehand, Heronshaw was sent off an 11/2 chance.
But it seemed as if the support would be misplaced as the Richard Johnson-ridden Sausalito Sunrise seized an important lead three hurdles out, going clear of the field.
A blunder at the final hurdle, however, gave Thornton a chance and his mount Heronshaw rallied strongly on the run-in, eating up a five-length gap to win by a head.
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