PERSONA Pride, ridden by Ledbury jockey Julian Pritchard, scored a popular victory in the Welsh Border Area Confined Championship race at the Golden Valley point to point at Bredwardine.

The margin of victory was a battling length and a half victory over the favourite Asthefellasays.

Leading from the outset, Pritchard got his mount jumping superbly.

Despite being challenged all the way up the home straight by the favourite, Persona Pride stayed on well to win for Kingsland-based owners Percy and Sonia Priday and trainer Billy Brown.

Pritchard was also a beneficiary of an injury to Adrian Wintle, who sustained a broken ankle in a division of the Restricted race. He came in for his ride aboard Northern Deal in the Men's Open and was another pillar to post win for the Dick Baimbridge trained favourite.

Pritchard rounded off the day by taking the final Maiden race aboard the Jelly Nolan trained Catechist, but leading rider of the season Richard Burton still extended his lead in the championship as he scored a double on The Unamed Man and Donrico.

The heavy rain caused a number of fallers early on in the meeting and after representations from some jockeys the Stewards reduced the safety factor, causing more races to be divided.

Results

Members: 1. Arctic King (S Lloyd) 2/5F, 2. Queen of the Daises 33/1, 3. Go Man 10.1. Five ran.

Restricted (Div One): 1. The Unamed Man (R Burton) 3/1, 2. Glacial Boy 12/1, 3. River Ground 8/1. 13 ran.

Restricted (Div Two), part One): 1. Galexy Minstrel (S Phizackalea) 5/1, 2. Hydemilla 4/1, 3. It's a Handful 6/1. Nine ran.

Restricted (Div Two, part Two): 1. Fair Charmer (I Thompson) 6/4F, 2. Hill Sprie 12/1. Only two finished. Nine ran.

Open: 1. Northern Deal (J Pritchard) 2/5F, 2. General Custer 9/4, 3. Sir Dante 16/1. 12 ran.

Ladies (Div One): 1. Hoodwinker (J Williams), 3/1, 2. Zingibar 20/1, 3. De Chelly 14/1. Nine ran.

Ladies (Div Two): 1. Zamahareer (T Harrison) 3/1, 2. Pride of Kashmir 4/1, 3. Flockmaster 5/2F. Eight ran.

Welsh Border Area Championship Confined: 1.Persona Pride (J Pritchard) 5/1, 2. Asthefellasays 1/3F, 3. Wild Eric 5/1. Six ran.

Maiden 5,6,7, yo (Div One): 1. Donrico (R Burton) Evs F, 2. Wind on the Common 6/1, 3. Darcy Mae 14/1. 10 ran.

Maiden 5,6,7, yo (Div Two): 1. Quatermas (D Mansell) 2/1F, 2. Cracked Ice 7/1. Only two finished. Nine ran.

Maiden 8 yo + (Div One): 1. Boozi Birthday (F Hutsby) 4/1, 2. Uncle Ada 4/6 F. Only two finished. 10 ran.

Maiden 8 yo + (Div Two): 1. Catechist (J Pritchard) 7/2, 2. Almost a Day 7/2, 3. Snitton Salvo 7/1. Nine ran.