No place like Ludlow for native
She's Our Native once again demonstrated her love of Ludlow with a fifth course success in the Colonel Jock Cleghorn Handicap Chase today.
Evan Williams' charge was sent off the 13-8 favourite to add to her tally in the two-and-a-half-mile contest and led from the fourth fence until being briefly headed around the stable run.
The eight-year-old fought back once Paul Moloney had her straightened out and duly skipped away from Return Home to win by eight lengths.
Williams felt She's Our Native's brief slip was easily explained, adding: "She's been round here so many times she knows where the stables are, but despite that, she is genuine.
"We were handicapped to win this race but there is no size to her and she finds jumping fences difficult.
"I told Paul to make the running if there was no early pace."
Backbord got his name on the winner's list at the fifth time of asking in a thrilling finish to the Bowyer Styles Ltd Novices' Hurdle.
The 5-6 favourite had a tussle with Theatre Diva and The Sneakster over the final three flights before going on at the last to run out a one-and-a-half-length winner.
Trainer Lucy Wadham said: "Fitting a tongue strap and the better ground helped him after his last run at Cheltenham.
"We were anxious to get a win into him and now we can look to see where we go now.
"We might take another novice hurdle with a penalty but we are hoping he is a progressive sort."
Tony McCoy steered Fourty Acers (5-4 favourite) to an eyecatching debut win over fences in the Arrow Beginners' Chase.
Two brilliant leaps at the final two fences sealed victory for the David Pipe-trained runner, who pulled five lengths clear of Down's Folly at the finish.
He had looked a little clumsy in the early stages but Pipe's travelling head lad Bob Hodges said: "Tony said he was much better jumping when he had company.
"He won a point-to-point in Ireland so these fences were not new to him and he has done plenty of schooling at home."
Radcliffe (5-2) has had his problems but he put them behind him when running out a 16-length winner of the Clive Handicap Chase.
Pulled up on his seasonal reappearance at Towcester a month ago, Radcliffe made all of the running to beat Hi Fi, who threw away his chance with a bad mistake at the second-last.
Trainer Venetia Williams said: "The owner Mike Shone has been very patient because the horse missed most of last season after going lame."
Radcliffe's win provided the first half of a double for Sam Thomas who also took the Christmas Parties At Ludlow Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race aboard the Henrietta Knight-trained Seismic Shift (3-1).
Heathyards Joy was a lucky winner of the Concha Y Toro Wines Selling Hurdle as she looked booked for second approaching the last.
Secret's Out was four lengths clear approaching the hurdle but a bad mistake saw him fall, leaving 9-1 shot Heathyards Joy to claim the prize by a length and a half from Gold Quest.
Sarah Hollinshead, representing her father and winning trainer Reg, said: "We were lucky but the hurdles are there to be jumped.
"I am delighted for her owner Les Morgan who is in his 80s and has been a long standing patron of ours."
Rising star Tom O'Brien showed just why he is quickly ascending the ranks when partnering Win A Rose to victory in the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle.
O'Brien lost an iron after the last but still kept the 11-8 favourite up to his work to score a two-and-a-half-length victory over Little Rort.
