JUST Cliquot was a dramatic winner of the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire Hunt meeting at Chaddesley Corbett.

In a rousing finish, the Gary Hanmer-ridden horse just held off Merry Path to take the point-to-point classic race.

Last year's winner and Aintree Foxhunter runner-up, Caught At Dawn, was sent off odds-on favourite but never seemed to be travelling well and his chance went early on the final circuit as Hanmer moved Just Cliquot up to pass long-time leader Derrintogher Yank at the third last.

Merry Path, ridden by James Tudor, threw down a big challenge over the final two fences but, showing great determination, Just Cliquot responded valiantly and had a length and three-quarters to spare at the line.

Both the winner and jockey are set to retire at the end of the season with Just Cliquot destined to the stud paddocks and Hanmer to hang up his race-riding boots and concentrate on his training yard.

The Ladies Open again featured regular opponents Upton Adventure and Golfagent, with the score 2-1 in Upton Adventure's favour.

Upton Adventure was sent off odds-on favourite but Rachel Reynolds, aboard Golfagent, refused to panic and took a slight advantage over the second last and, despite Upton Adventure responding gamely to rider Emma James' urgings, Golfagent held on to take the race by three lengths.

The meeting closed with the impressive victory of the Mike Hammond-trained five-year-old Royal Gunner who belied his lack of experience to stay on strongly and beat The Four Opinions.

Rider Sam Waley-Cohen continued his winning streak following wins at both Cheltenham and Aintree with a game win on his father Robert's Irilut in the Confined by a length-and-a-half from outsider Suaverof and favourite Heavy Weather.

Results: Member: 1 Totalnd Bay (T Weston) 9/4, 2 Borderline Breeze 14/1, 3 Mr Nabaro 16/1. 7 ran.

Confined: 1 Irilut(S Waley-Cohen) 3/1, 2 Suaverof 25/1, 3 Heavy Weather 7/4 fav. 14 ran.

Lady Dudley Cup: 1 Just Cliquot (G Hanmer) 8/1, 2 Merry Path 9/1, 3 Derrintogher Yank 40/1. 10 ran.

Ladies: 1 Golfagent(R Reynolds) 5/2, 2 Upton Adventure 8/13 fav, 3 Greenwich 6/1. 9 ran.

Restricted: 1 Springbrook Girl (A Wintle) 8/1, 2 Tender Tangle 2/1 fav, 3 Lance Toi 16/1. 14 ran.

Club Members Mares: 1 Sherwood Rose (M Harris) 11/8 fav, 2 Suzie Cream Ches 4/1, 3 Teeton Glaive 6/1. 10 ran.

Maiden (Div 1): 1 Shambob (J Burley) 20/1, 2 Strolling 5/2 fav, 3 Try to Wyn 14/1. 15 ran.

Maiden: (Div 2): 1 Royal Gunner(W Hill) 5/1, 2 Four Opinions 5/2 fav, 3 Gemster 8/1. 15 ran.

LEDBURY-based jockey Julian Pritchard became the most successful British point-to-point rider of all time yesterday, riding a double at Maisemore Park to take him to a new record of 346 career wins.

Pritchard levelled the score with a hard fought win on The Brooklet in the Restricted Open and broke the record 35 minutes later aboard Royal Jake in the Mixed Open, cruising home by fifteen lengths.

An ecstatic Pritchard said: "It's great to break the record at my local meeting and my local course, I'm very pleased."

Results: Members: 1 Fanion de Neulliac (L Payter) 5/4, 2 Go Go Gallent 11/1. Only two finished, 4 ran.

Maiden 5,6,7 yo (Div 1): 1 Winters Beau (E Walker) 5/2, 2 Dazzling Jim, 7/1, 3 Tracy's Dot Com 9/4 fav. 7 ran.

Maiden 5,6,7 yo (Div 2): 1 Kotori (S Grey) 16/1, 2 Golden Embers 14/1. Only two finished. 8 ran.

Restricted: 1 The Brooklet (J Pritchard) 4/1, 2 Arctic Cherry 11/8 fav, 3 Another Bit 5/1. 9 ran.

Mixed Open: 1. Royal Jake (J Pritchard) 4/5 fav, 2 Lough Ennal 13/2, 3 Hades de Sienne 33/1. 8 ran.

Intermediate: 1 Saint Reverien (A Wintle) 5/2, 2 Beauchamp Oracle 2/1, 3 The Noble Roman 6/4 fav. 8 ran.

Maiden 8 yo up: 1 Strong Weld (R Jagger) Evens fav, 2 Force ten 8/1, 3 Madame Bavarde 12/1. 15 ran.