THERE was a disappointing turn out of only three runners for the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire Hunt fixture at Chaddesley Corbett, but racegoers were treated to a thrilling finish which saw victory go-ing to the outsider of three Paymaster ridden by Julian Pritchard from the neck runner-up Fontaine Again.

The favourite General Wolfe led the three runners until halfway until joined by Fontaine Again ridden by Tim Stephenson.

But a decisive move by Pritchard at the third last fence saw his mount gain a valuable six length lead and despite tiring badly close home they held on by a neck from Fontaine Again with General Wolfe a distance back in third place.

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 commented: "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 and saw the favourite Gill'Mar pull 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 Belle 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.

Results

Members: 1. Caught at Dawn (T Weston) 4/9 F, 2. Top of the Charts 4/1, 3. Holders Hill 13/2. 5 ran.

Confined: 1. Master Jock (W Hill) 5/2, 2. Fundy 8/1, 3. Wild Blade 20/1, 7 ran.

Open (Lady Dudley Cup): 1. Paymaster(J Pritchard),2. Fontaine Again 6/53. General Wolfe Evs F. 3 ran

Ladies: 1. Upton Adventure(E James) 6/4 , 2. Brook Bee 20/1, 3. Do It Once 12/1 6 ran.

Restricted: 1. Silent Action (M Haris)13/8 2. Brown Blake 7/2, 3. Winning Town 8/1. 6 ran.

Club members: 1. Early Dawn(M Harris), 2. Belle Moss F. Only two ran.

Maiden: 1. Lava(M Wall) 9/4 F, 2. Expresso Drummer 9/2, 3. come on Boy 7/2. 7 ran.