WHAT A Laugh proved a worthy winner of the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire Point-to-point on Saturday afternoon, getting the better of a protracted battle with Stone over the final three fences.

The race took place before one the biggest crowds seen at Chaddesley Corbett, with seven runners lining up for the big race. Jetnova carried the hopes of the locals but things were obviously amiss when John Smith Maxwell pulled him up after four fences.

The Welsh challenger, Gouranga Society, led from the start but his effort petered out as the pace increased along the back straight with a mile to run.

What A Laugh and Stone had drawn clear entering the home straight, where the favourite Benedictus was struggling to close the gap in third.

Gillian Crow’s mount had its head in front at this point but Stone fought back bravely between the final two fences and was on level terms at the last.

But What a Laugh was not going to be denied his moment in the limelight and stayed on courageously to win by a length.

Tom Weston’s Hindlip yard continued its winning run with Thoonavolla successful in the Members, helping consolidate Weston’s lead in both the West Midland Area Jockeys' Championship and Trainers' Championships.

Meanwhile, Atomic Tangerine was backed as though defeat was out of the question in the Confined and his supporters were beginning to count their winnings when Sam Waley-Cohen's mount led on the uphill run with just two fences to jump before two fences out.

But the mare dropped away soon afterwards, which meant meaning that Seven Days held a narrow advantage over Now Ben, which was maintained on the run to the judge.

Worcestershire Point-to-point results — Members: 1 Thoonavolla (T Weston); 2 Definitely Rose; 3 Tullyraine.

Confined: 1 Seven Days (J Martin); 2 Now Ben; 3 Take over Sivola.

Ladies' Open: 1 Ruddy Article (H Watson) 5-2; 2 Khyber Kim; 3 Fort George.

Men’s Open (The Lady Dudley Cup): 1 What A Laugh (G Crow) 7-2; 2 Stone; 3 Benedictus.

Maiden: 1 Wind of Hope (W Biddick) 7-4 fav; 2 The De Thaix; 3 Get Off My Cloud.

Restricted: 1 Best Director (H Watson) 5-1; 2 Jack Jone; 3 Spike Wood.

Open Maiden: 1 North Hill Harvey (C Deutsch) 5-2 fav; 2 Native Gamut.

The 10-year-old son of Indian Danehill carries the colours of Chipping Norton based Anne Taylor, but is trained by her daughter Sue at Pershore.

She later related the problems the family had faced with Seven Days. “He came to us from Phillip Hobbs and injured his hock at Mollington last year. He was in his stable all last summer. It’s been a battle to get him ready and he needed the run when pulled up on his debut. We don’t have any gallops so he is ridden up Bredon Hill and that seems to get him fit”.

Fort George and Brodie Hampson attempted to make all in the Ladies Open and they still held the call as the runners freewheeled into the home straight. Ruddy Article moved up threateningly but was hampered by the leader jumping to his left at the second from home.

Hannah Watson eased her mount into a challenging position between the final two fences, which they jumped in unison with the leader before Ruddy Article drew away on the flat.

Andy Powell had qualified Ruddy Article with the Duke of Beaufort and explained later “We are out of our comfort zone here, but we wanted a left handed track and a flat track. They have done a wonderful job on the course”.

This win provided the first leg of a double for Worcestershire rider Hannah Watson but the second required an element of luck.

Earthpower and Will Biddick had drawn clear of their rivals with half a mile to run and were assured of victory before the horse tried to run out at the last. He slowed dramatically at the final obstacle but the opposite was true of his jockey who was accelerating forward resulting in the inevitable outcome.

Their departure left Ring Ben with the advantage but he had nothing in reserve when Best Director swept by on the flat to prevail by a length and a half.

The winners carries the colours of the Middleton Racing Partnership headed by Belinda Clarke. She also trains the 7-year-old son of Oscar, who showed no signs of the “suspected stamina limitations” highlighted in the race-card.

The strong pace set by Jayjayrumi and Native Gamut proved too much for their rivals in the concluding Maiden and as the race progressed they began to drop by the wayside.

Charlie Deutsch did well to recover from a mistake by the favourite North Hill Harvey and they were amongst a handful of runners that remained in contention on the second circuit.

Half a mile from home it became a two horse race and soon afterwards Deutsch made his bid for victory. His mount had secured a useful lead on the final turn and with the runner up tiring visibly in the home straight North Hill Harvey ran out an impressive winner.

Worcestershire Point-to-Point results - Members: 1 Thoonavolla (T Weston); 2 Definitely Rose; 3 Tullyraine.

Confined: 1 Seven Days (J Martin); 2 Now Ben; 3 Take over Sivola.

Ladies Open: 1 Ruddy Article (H Watson) 5-2; 2 Khyber Kim; 3 Fort George.

Men’s Open (The Lady Dudley Cup): 1 What A Laugh (G Crow) 7-2; 2 Stone; 3 Benedictus.

Maiden: 1 Wind of Hope (W Biddick) 7-4 fav; 2 The De Thaix; 3 Get Off My Cloud.

Restricted: 1 Best Director (H Watson) 5-1; 2 Jack Jone; 3 Spike Wood.

Open Maiden: 1 North Hill Harvey (C Deutsch) 5-2 fav; 2 Native Gamut.