HORSERACING: There was a disappointing turn-out of only three runners for the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire Hunt fixture at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday.

But race-goers were treated to a thrilling finish which saw victory going to the outsider, Paymaster, ridden by Julian Pritchard, from the neck of runner-up Fontaine Again.

The favourite, General Wolfe, led the three runners until half-way until joined by Fontaine Again, ridden by Tim Stephenson.

But a decisive move by Pritchard at the third-from-last fence saw his mount gain a valuable six-length lead and despite tiring badly close to home they held on.

Trained by Jelly Nolan, the New Zealand-bred Paymaster had raced under rules for Henrietta Knight and a return to rules is possible.

But winning owners Rupert Sweeting, Adrian Ouer and Johnny Eddis were delighted at capturing the point-to-point classic race.

Pritchard said: "We were third to Fontaine Again at the Harkaway Club meeting but I was confident we would turn the tables on firmer ground."

The firm ground, which affected the number of runners in the Lady Dudley Cup, meant only six runners faced the starter in the Ladies Open.

The favourite, Gill'Mar, pulled up on the second circuit, leaving Upton Adventure to cruise home a hard-held two-length winner for rider Emma James and owner Peter Corbett.

Michael Harris scored a double on Silent Action in the Restricted Open race and Early Dawn in the Club Members race who beat the odds-on favourite, Bell Moss and Nick Oliver.

The opening Members race fell to Tom Weston aboard the odds-on favourite Caught at Dawn, who easily scored by four lengths from Top of the Charts.

Full results

Members (five ran): 1 Caught at Dawn (rider Weston), 2 Top of the Charts, 3 Holders Hill.

Confined (seven): 1 Master Jock (W Hill), 2 Fundy, 3 Wild Blade.

Open Lady Dudley Cup (three): 1 Paymaster (Pritchard), 2 Fontaine Again, 3 General Wolfe.

Ladies (six): 1 Upton Adventure (James), 2 Brook Bee, 3 Do It Once.

Restricted (six): 1 Silent Action (Harris), 2 Brown Blake, 3 Winning Town.

Club Members (two): 1 Early Dawn (Harris), 2 Belle Moss.

Maiden (seven): 1 Lava (M Wall), 2 Expresso Drummer, 3 Come on Boy.