MORE than 2,000 punters enjoyed a cracking night's racing at Pitchcroft with Tony McCoy again tasting victory at Worcester.

Champion jockey McCoy has already enjoyed some superb racing at Worcester this year and he held off the challenge of rival Richard Johnson in the handicap hurdle to take the honours in the £5,300 event.

McCoy, on regular Worcester runner Ashgan, saw off Johnson on fancied Shamsan with Tom Scudamore third past the post on Glacial Missile.

The race was the highlight of an action-packed evening with some top class action on offer for the 2,300 crowd.

Scudamore had earlier won the novices' handicap chase when Gipsy Cricketer put in an impressive display and he made it a double with Swansea Bay in the handicap steeple chase, holding off Johnson on Laazim Afooz.

Mick Fitzgerald took the plaudits in the Maiden Hurdle on Tarski while Leighton Aspell and Imprevue claimed a surprise win in the selling handicap hurdle early on.

In the novices' hurdle, Gaia Grey was led home by Jason Maguire after opening up a 10-length lead at the last.

The night also saw a lifetime achievement award for veteran John Taylor who has been involved in racing since 1936 and made his debut on the flat at Pitchcroft during the Second World War.

Taylor was presented with the Racing Welfare award by McCoy to cap a fine night at Worcester.