SECOND-favourites won the first three contests at Worcester’s Pitchcroft racecourse today.

The overall success was again shared around the jockeys, trainers and owners as only two outside chances at 6-1 took the plaudits from the bumper card of eight races.

Top handler Paul Nicholls secured an early triumph by a neck through San Benedeto (9-4) under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Horace Hazel (4-1) and Hahnenkam (11-4) then flew home first with the former scooping a £7,596 prize.

Turn Turk (6-1) won for trainer Nicky Henderson and Sand Blast (6-1) secured victory for Alcester’s Dan Skelton.

RESULTS

2.20pm MFG Solicitors Novices’ Chase: 1st 2 San Benedeto (S Twiston-Davies, 9/4 2nd-fav), 2nd 1 Presenting Arms (R Johnson, 6/4 fav). 7 ran. Distances: Neck, ½ length, ¾ length. Winning trainer: P F Nicholls.

2.50pm Suckling Transport Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1st 5 Horace Hazel (Mr D G Noonan, 4/1 2nd-fav), 2nd 1 Jimmy The Jetplane (Mr D Bass, 5/1). 4 ran. Distances: 1 length. Winning trainer: A J Honeyball.

3.20pm Allelys General Haulage Standard Open NH Flat Race (Div 1): 1st 2 Hahnenkam (C O’Farrell, 11/4 2nd-fav), 2nd 6 Sungai Long (R Johnson, 6/5 fav), 3rd 4 Knight Crusader (T Scudamore, 7/2). 9 ran. Distances: 1¾ lengths, 20 lengths, 5 lengths. Winning trainer: S Durack.

3.55pm Allelys General Haulage Standard Open NH Flat Race (Div 2): 1st 9 Turn Turk (Mr Jeremiah Mcgrath, 6/1), 2nd 8 Simply Blessed (Mr S P Bowen, 12/1), 3rd 4 Stay Out Of Court (T Scudamore, 4/1). 9 ran. Distances: 1 length, 6 lengths, 4½ lengths. Winning trainer: N J Henderson.

4.30pm Houghton Edwards Wealth Management Novices’ Hurdle: 1st 1 Mr Kit Cat (Paul Moloney, 7/4 fav), 2nd 5 Alcock And Brown (Harry Skelton, 7/2), 3rd 6 Jupiter Custos (T Scudamore, 20/1). 10 ran. Distances: 1½ lengths, Head. Winning trainer: Evan Williams.

5pm MFG Solicitors Handicap Hurdle: 1st 3 Rolling Maul (Mr S P Bowen, 7/2 joint-fav), 2nd 5 Moss On The Mill (P J Brennan, 7/2 joint-fav). 6 ran. Distances: 4 lengths, ¾ length, ½ length. Winning trainer: P Bowen.

5.30pm Baby Rhino Rush Novices’ Hurdle: 1st 5 Sand Blast (Harry Skelton, 6/1), 2nd 2 Bandit Country (R P Mclernon, 11/2), 3rd 4 It’s A Steal (Paul Moloney, 9/4 joint-fav). 8 ran. Distances: 1¼ lengths, 2 lengths. Winning trainer: Dan Skelton.

6.05pm Nicklin Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: 1st 8 Courtlands Prince (Mr H Cobden, 3/1 fav), 2nd 2 Tricky (Mr C Smith, 5/1 2nd-fav), 3rd 10 The Kvilleken (Mr T Bellamy, 7/1). 11 ran. Distances: 2¼ lengths, 1 length, 5 lengths. Winning trainer: N P Mulholland.