RACING often mirrors life in that it is always full of ups and downs.

The last three weeks have been harrowing for Ledbury mother Sally Merrick after her daughter Lizzie suffered life-threatening injuries in a fall at Garnons.

Lizzie is now out of hospital and well on her way to making a full recovery. She was able to witness the family's horse, Mr Tenpercents, return to the winners' enclosure after his emphatic victory in division one of the eight-year-old and upwards Maiden during Sunday's Ledbury point-to-point at Maisemore Park.

The 10-year-old had an inauspicious career under rules for Eastnor trainer Matt Sheppard so was transferred into the care of his wife, Nicky, for a campaign between the flags.

The winner has found his right grade in this company because he drew clear of the opposition between the final two fences to land an easy victory.

The hills round Eastnor are obviously beneficial for training because Gill Pritchard sent out Double Thatch to claim victory in division one of the Restricted. Owner Keith Dance has had to be patient with the 10-year-old, who has had a few problems since his purchase at Doncaster in 2003.

Hanley Swan-based trainer Andy Hobbs and owner Clive Hitchings are enjoying a tremendous season and their run continued with Saint Reverien extending his winning sequence to five in the Men's Open. The seven-year-old had to work hard for this victory and it required a few reminders to hold the persistent challenge of Campden Carrig down the home straight.

Successes have been thin on the ground for Upton- upon-Severn trainer Simon Lewis over the last couple of years, but he produced a magnificent training performance to get Jolly Joe race-fit after a four-year absence.

The quality of the opposition in division two of the eight-year-old and upwards Maiden may not have been that strong but the winner stormed clear in the home straight and won by 20 lengths.

Clive Bennett's Fertile Valley has a high cruising speed but the 10-year-old's visits to the racecourse have generally been few and far between, so the Dymock-trained gelding did extremely well to hold on for victory under a strong ride by Polly Gundry, after Earl of Buckingham had staged a late rally.

RESULTS

Members: 1 Fertile Valley (Miss P Gundry) 4-7 Fav, 2 Earl of Buckingham (M Wilesmith) 9-4, 3 Springbrook Girl (A Wintle) 7-1. 8 ran.

5-6-7 YO Maiden - Division 1 - Part 1: 1 Cappacurry (J Benfield) 8-1, 2 Inthemiddle (Miss H Lewis) 10-1. Only two finished. 9 ran.

5-6-7 YO Maiden - Division 1 - Part 2: 1 Dicks Dream (Miss C Allen) 5-1, 2 Another Alliance (D Jones) 6-4 Fav. Only two finished. 10 ran.

5-6-7 YO Maiden - Division 2: 1 Willie the Kid (D Maxwell) 2-1 Fav, 2 Maire De Beaulieu (J M Pritchard) 7-1, 3 Young Will (A Wintle) 4-1. 13 ran.

Ladies' Open: 1 Father Tom (Miss C Allen) 1-2 Fav, 2 Derringtogher Yank (Miss R Reynolds) 7-1, 3 Polar Flight (Miss R Green) 7-1. 9 ran.

Men's Open: 1 Saint Reverien (A Wintle) 8-13 Fav, 2 Campden Carrig (G Phillips) 8-1, 3 Mr Banker (D England) 20-1. 13 ran.

Restricted - Division 1: 1 Lord of the Bog (P Mason) 9-4 Fav, 2 Cattle Class (R Woollacott) 7-2, 3 Alfie Valentine (K Ford) 8-1. 13 ran.

Restricted - Division 2: 1 Double Thatch (J M Pritchard) 4-7 Fav, 2 Gossip (S Bush) 4-1, 3 James Pine (J Trice Rolph) 10-1. 7 ran.

Intermediate: 1 Home By Midnight (T Ellis) 7-4Fav, 2 Ballyedgar (R Morgan) 11-2, 3 The Noble Roman (P Mann) 9-2. 11 ran.

8 YO and Up Maiden - Division 1: 1 Mr Tenpercent (L Payter) 7-1, 2 Fulwell Hill (C Wadland) 2-1 Fav. Only two finish. 9 ran.

8 YO and Up Maiden - Division 2: 1 Jolly Joe (D Mansell) 5-1, 2 Mytabean (S Bush) 4-1, 3 Supreme Presence (A Brown) 2-1 Fav. 9 ran.