A TOTAL of 98 horses contested eight races in an action-packed Ledbury meeting.

Five runners turned out for the Members but the race still provided plenty of excitement.

Noble Ben’s jumping was immaculate and he hit the front with four fences to jump but the same could not be said of Saint Reverien who made several blunders.

Rounding the final bend, Tom Weston cajoled Saint Reverien into the lead but his stride began to shorten approaching the final obstacle whereas James Ridley’s mount met it on a perfect stride, allowing them to gain a length advantage which was maintained all the way to the line.

This victory meant a lot to the Ridley family so there was a loud cheer when the horse returned to the winners enclosure where he was greeted by his Forthampton-based owner-trainer Heather Ridley and her husband Mike. This was the nine-year-old’s third win of the season and he has been the mainstay of James Ridley’s assault on the Novice Riders Championship.

The Ridley’s were unlucky not to land a double with Friendly Natives in Division Two of the Maiden.

He looked the likely winner on the final bend, but was overtaken by Halfway Cut at the second from home.

Clive Bennett’s recent Irish acquisition Ballydaily was all the rage in the two-mile five-furlong Maiden but the Dymock-based owner had to be content with third place on this occasion.

Ballydaily led into the home straight but was passed by Desert Joe and Flying Gnu. Having jumped flawlessly up to this point, Desert Joe slowed dramatically at the final obstacle, breasted the fence and pitched on landing and that nearly cost him victory.

The winner carries the colours of Don Constable whose horses are based in the Abberley (Worcester) stables of trainer Zoe Hammond.

This was David Mansell’s 150th winner, including those he has ridden under Rules. Nomadic Dreamer and Liam Payter have been disappointing on their last couple of runs but bounced back to form with an impressive win in the Conditions race, while Tom Bellamy and Basis Point were outpointed by Go On Paddy Joe in the Restricted.

TheManfromframm was then crowned the winner in Division One of the Maiden after Adrian Wintle had asked his mount to quicken at the third from home.

They opened up an unassailable lead round the final bend and he had the race won before the final obstacle.

Dickie Johnson took a busman’s holiday from his riding commitments under NH rules to support his wife Fiona who had nursed the horse back to fitness with the nine-year-old overcoming several problems over the last five years.

Pickersleigh two previous outings in point-to-points have been full of promise and Mervyn Jones’ seven-year-old mare finally delivered the goods when scoring a win under Sam Drinkwater in the United Maiden at Brampton Bryan.

Pickersleigh led into the home straight and saw off a succession of challenges for her rivals before drawing clear over the final two fences to claim the prize for her Berrow (Malvern)-based owner.

The afternoon had started off on a winning note with Ruairi seeing off the opposition in the Confined.

The third local success was provided by Coddington Lass in the day’s concluding race, the two-mile four-furlong Maiden.

Coddington Lass gained vital lengths on the final bend and had little difficulty maintaining her advantage all the way up the home straight to see off the challenge of Interpleader.

Ledbury results: Members (five runners): 1 Noble Ben, 2 Saint Reverien, 3 Openditch; Restricted (13): 1 Go On Paddy Joe, 2 Basis Point, 3 Kingaroy Lass; WMAC Club Members (13): 1 Nomadic Dreamer, 2 Johnny Kilawee, 3 Jim Edwards; Mixed Open (9): 1 Surenaga, 2 Lady Myanwy, 3 Dennis the Legend; Intermediate (16): 1 Findlay’s Find, 2 Mr Melodious, 3 Ice Cool Benny; Open Maiden (Division One, 15): 1 Themanfromfraam, 2 Gallant Lad, 3 Mulranny; Open Maiden (Division Two, 16): 1 Halfway Cut, 2 Friendly Natives, 3 Oscars Alice; Open Maiden (11): 1 Desert Joe, 2 Flying Gnu, 3 Ballydaily.