IT was business as usual at the Ludlow Hunt point to point meeting at Bitterley on Saturday when odds-on favourite Well Ted justified favouritism by returning to winning ways in the Land Rover qualifier Men's Open.

Dropped well off the pace on the first circuit by Julian Pritchard, Well Ted made ground smoothly on the final circuit. And, once the partnership had swept into the lead at the fifth-last fence, the result was never in doubt as they scored by six lengths.

Rusty Fellow stayed on reliably to take second place close home and the win for Well Ted made up for a runners-up place last time out. But trainer Dick Baimbridge confirmed that the winner will not take his place in the Land Rover final as his style of jumping is too flat for regulation fences.

The Ladies' Open saw Upton Adventure and Emma James sent off favourites and racegoers were treated to a race of cat and mouse as first Mounthenry Star and then Gill'mar tried to burn off the favourite's finishing spurt.

After Mounthenry Star had blundered when leading, it was Candy Thomas aboard Gill'mar who seized the initiative by poaching a valuable lead down the back straight of the final circuit. Despite the valiant attempts of the favourite, Gill'mar stayed on stoughtly.

It was a fitting winner for owner Mickey Wiggin who is the landlord of the course and a local racing stalwart who was on hand to welcome back the Geoff Evans trained runner.

Rider Ray Rogers, at the age of 49, scored his second winner of the campaign in a division of the Maiden race aboard Miss Moss for owners Alan and Sue Simcock from Bromyard.

Rogers, who has been amateur 'whipper-in' of the North Hereford Hunt for over 20 years, showed a fine judge of pace as he challenged again at the final fence, scoring by eight lengths from runner-up Finne Gaoithe and Mark Munrowd.

The first division of the maiden fell to Ann Price's Huntersway and Steve Lloyd who deprived the well supported Welsh favourite Mountain Lily by a length.

RESULTS

Members: 1 High Mood (R Cooper) 7/4, 2 Cadougold 4/6F, 3 Snitton West 14/1. 4 ran.

Confined: 1 Coole Venture (R Burton) 4/7F, 2 Titus Bramble 9/4, 3 Mr Nabarro 5/1. 7 ran.

Open: 1 Well Ted (J Pritchard) 4/9F, 2 Rusty Fellow 9/1, 3 Wild Edric 4/1. 7 ran.

Maiden 5,6,7 yo, Div 1: 1 Huntersway (S Lloyd) 3/1, 2 Mountain Lily 2/1F. 3 Italian Clover, 8/1. 7 ran.

Div 2: 1 Miss Moss (R Rogers) 12/1, 2 Finne Gaoithe 4/1, 3 Nealie Mac 14/1. 10 ran.

Ladies: 1 Gill'mar (C Thomas) 6/1, 2 Upton Adventure 5/4F, 3 Prestige Lord 16/1. 9 ran.

Restricted: 1 Room to Room (P Grundry), 2 Winning Town 10/1, 3 Brave Albert 7/1, 16 ran.

Maiden 8 yo+: 1 Rockwelda (A Wintle) 3/1F, 2 Almost a Day 10/1, 3 Maori Chief 8/1 14 ran.

n Jockey Adrian Wintle followed up his last race success at Ludlow with an opening race win at Sunday's Cotswold Vale Farmers' meeting at Maisemore Park on Macy.

He then completed a double aboard the odds-on favourite Northern Deal in the Mixed Open.

RESULTS

Members: 1 Macy (A Wintle) 4/6F, 2 Tirley Gale 6/4, 3 Mornder Romany 16/1. 4 ran.

Confined: 1 The Kings Fling (P Gundry) 5/2, 2 Melody Princess 14/1, 3 Eloi 11 20/1. 10 ran.

PPORA Nov Rider, Div 1: 1 Bold Statement (S Hughes) 4/1, 2 Joshuas Vision 5/ 1, 3 Wild Blade 20/1. 11 ran.

Div 2: 1 Heavy Hustler (A Clifford) 2/1F, 2 Carried Interest 4/1, 3 Tale Bridge 11/2. 11 ran.

Mixed Open: 1 Northern Deal (A Wintle) 1/2F, 2 Rectory Garden 20/1. Only 2 finished. 5 ran.

Restricted: 1 Beyond the Stars (E Phillips) 20/1, 2 Lockington 9/4F, 3 Master grass 10/1. 14 ran.

Maiden, Div 1: 1 Talygarn (J Proice) 9/1, 2 Red Spark 16/1, 3 Croesy Pennant 20/1. 11 ran.

Div 2: 1 Certain Surprise (E James) 2/1, 2 Lord Castle 5/4F, 3 Ashfield Jake 2/1. 9 ran.

Div 3: 1 Lord Tiddlypush (J Pritchard) 5/2, 2 Thomas the Doubter 9/4F, 3 Mainlier 12/1.