IT was a favourites day at Worcester Races yesterday as the first three winners were hotly fancied by the Pitchcroft punters.

Andrew Thornton started the bookie-bashing when he steered Novacella to victory in the opening mares only betfredpoker.com Novices' Hurdle.

The 13-8 favourite proved too hot on the run-in for Andrew McNamara and Very Special One.

Saltango was an even warmer favourite for the Steve, Cath and Snowy Doyle's Novices Hurdle and the 5-4 hot-shot did not disappoint to win by 10 lengths from Taking My Cut.

Idle Talk completed the hat-trick of favourite winners when the six-year-old eased to victory in the Fred Rimell Memorial Beginners' Steeplechase.

The 7-2 favourite had six lengths to spare over Lord Killeshanra.

1.50: 9 Novacella A Thornton 13-8 Fav, 13 Very Special One J P Mcnamara 12-1, 7 Labelthou J Tizzard 9-2, 13 ran.

2.20: 11 Saltango W Kennedy 5-4 Fav, 13 Taking My Cut R McGrath 18-1, 5 Eight Fifty Five W Marston 22-1, 12 ran, non runners : 8.

2.50: 3 Idle Talk J M Maguire 7-2 Fav, 5 Lord Killeshanra J Tizzard 12-1, 6 Mel In Blue Mr S Waley-Cohen 9-2, 14 ran, non runners : 8.

3.20: 9 Pardon What K Mercer 28-1, 3 Eljutan S Walsh 66-1, 5 Hard N Sharp W Kennedy 6-1, 1 Caspian Dusk R Lucey-Butler 40-1, 17 ran.

3.50: 5 Major Euro M Foley 11-2, 6 Mon Mome S Thomas 5-1, 4 Bunkum W Kennedy 6-1, 7 ran.

4.20: 1 Au Courant S Curling 11-10 Fav, 2 Busy Henry L Heard 7-1, 3 Different Class Mr Alan Berry 7-4, 5 ran.