THIRTEEN entries have been received for this year’s Lady Dudley Cup, the feature event at today’s Worcestershire Hunt meeting at Chaddesley Corbett, and one of the most prestigious races on the point-to-point calendar.

What this year’s running lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.

Divine Intervention has been a model of consistency at the highest level but he has just over a length to make up on Mendip Express on their Larkhill running earlier in the year. He had to concede 7lb to the winner on that occasion and will have another two furlongs to contend with this time.

Dorset trainer Richard Bar-ber would not be making the long journey north if he did not think that Mendip Express was up to the challenge. The winner of four races already this season, Mendip Express has yet to be extended.

Bridgnorth trainer Phil Rowley has high hopes for Sybarite. With an unbeaten record in 2012/13, he was was highly impressive when beating Nobby Kivambo at Paxford. Still relatively inexperienced, he has yet to be tested in the heat of battle, but possesses a turn of speed, which could carry him to victory.

Over the Phone came back to form with a hard-fought win in late February. He has had a good rest since then and the Hanley Swan-trained gelding does have stamina which may be crucial.

Of the other contenders, Trouble Digger has a course victory to his credit and will relish the underfoot conditions, while What A Laugh and On Borrowed Wings have place hopes at best.

The Members race at Chaddesley Corbett sees more than half of the 15 entries carrying similar col-ours.

William and Angela Rucker have entered three horses – Ashfields Dream, On Borrowed Wings and Petit Lord – while Mrs Rucker’s sisters, Katherine Smith Maxwell and Christine Banks, both have two entries. The former’s Himbleton yard will be hoping to win with either Lurgan or Yabora, while Mrs Banks relies on Hall Kelly or That’s Ben. Their mother, Pat Tollit, has the reliable Virginia Preuil.

David Dennis’s Feckenham-trained Presenting Will-iam will find things more difficult out of Maiden company.