THE Hereford & Borders HRC meeting under BHRC rules had both thrills and spills on the action-packed card of 17 races.

Richard Owens' Greenwood Beth, driven by the debonair Jason Podmore, took the first heat of the £3,000 Open Handicap in impressive style for a stirring local victory, but the other three top-grade heats were plundered by raiders.

The Big Guy (Paul Holden) strode clear of Bon San (Sarah Mould) to snatch the second heat, while Meadow Branch Gigolo (John Richardson) just bested Fearless Scoot (Libby Lloyd) for an Irish victory.

Local heroes Nite'n'Gale and Fearless JR were both hampered when Camsbest (Steve Lees) slipped on the bend in the highly competitive Crock of Gold top-grade race, but the in-form Coalford Virtue (Edwin Fletcher) was always going to be hard to catch.

Sarah Mould sent Bon San to the front from the outset of the £3,000 Classic Cup Final, and the game mare stuck to her guns throughout.

She burned off the challenge of the eye-catching Camsbest on the first circuit, and then battled desperately with Greenwood Beth for supremacy. All 10 runners dived for the wire, but Sarah's smile as she crossed the line signified that the spoils were in the bag for her mother, Lyn, who owns and trains the mare.

Next fixture: Sunday, Allensmore 2 pm.

Going: Good.

RESULTS

Maiden Mile: 1 Troy (Keith Young); 2 Mascot (Colin Bevan); 3 Hilltop Greek (David Bevan). 2:13.0. 8L, 3L. Owned & trained by Keith Young, Newent.

Maiden Mile: 1 Heart of Gold (Brenda Dean); 2 Time For Change (Jamie Davies); 3 Flashback (Paul Holden). 2:15.2. 3L, 6L. Owned & trained by Brenda Dean, Ireland.

Maiden Mile: 1 Blackfield Breeze (Huw Thomas); 2 High Tide (Roy Wilson); 3 Lucky Bear (Carl Davies). 2:15.2. Neck, 7L. Owned & trained by Diane Thomas, Ammanford.

Classic Cup 1 Miles, Heat 1 (handicap reduced by 20 yds): 1 Greenwood Beth (Jason Podmore); 2 Factory Bacardi (Roy Wilson); 3 American Beauty (Huw Evans) 10 yds. 2:42.7. 4L, 1L. Owned by Richard Owens, trained by Jason Podmore, Uttoxeter.

Heat 2 (handicap reduced by 20 yds): 1 The Big Guy (Paul Holden) 10 yds; 2 Bon San (Sarah Mould); 3 Sherman's Pasha (Roy Wilson). 2:41.0 5L, 1L. Owned & trained by Paul Holden, Stoke-on-Trent.

Heat 3 (handicap reduced by 40 yds): 1 Meadow Branch Gigolo (John Richardson) 10 yds; 2 Fearless Scoot (Libby Lloyd); 3 Fold Flight (Julian Price). 2:40.8. L, L. Owned by Meadowbranch Stables, trained by Jon Richardson, Ireland.

Crock of Gold Top Grade, Heat 4 (handicap reduced by 50 yds): 1 Coalford Virtue (Edwin Fletcher); 2 Monarch's Gold (Megan Taff); 3 Cam's Best (Steve Lees) 10 yds. 2:39.3. 5L, 4L. Owned & trained by Edwin Fletcher, County Durham.

Novice Mile, Div 1: 1 Just William (David Bevan); 2 Pirnielodge Epona (A Taylor);3 Radnor Mary Anne (Lord Lipsey). 2:15.1 7L, 1L. Owned & trained by Graham Hammonds, Hundred House.

Div 2: 1 Life Form (Megan Taff); 2 Spring Skipper (Lee Vaughan); 3 Saunders Butterfly (Julian Price). 2:12.8. 2L, L. Owned by S Fletcher, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

Senior Improver: 1 Magical Monsini (John Harrop); 2 Vyrnwy Nightingale (Megan Taff); 3 Slipalongtravaskus (Jamie Davies). 2:10.2. 1L, L. Owned & trained by John Harrop, County Durham.

Improver: 1 Brett's Affair (Gareth Price); 2 Justin St George (Alan Westwood); 3 Newtown Ranger (David Bevan). 2:11.6. 7L, 2L. Owned & trained by Brian Davies, Sennybridge.

Intermediate: 1 Dreamin' (Joanne Taff); 2 Gypsy Girl (Jason Podmore); 3 Peak's Pastime (Chris Heaton). 2:06.7. 3L, 2L. Owned by Cynthia Appleby, trained by Joanne Taff, Cannock.

Intermediate: 1 Tommy's Bizzie (Huw Thomas); 2 Wellfield Princess (Richard Haines); 3 Conners Gold (Nina Morgan). 2:8.1. 6L, 5L. Owned & trained by Teifion Thomas, Ammanford.

Open handicap (lower grade): 1 Another Mattie (Gareth Price); 2 Wilbro Douglas (Patrick Morris); 3 Look Sharpe (Jamie Davies). 2:8.2 2L, 4L. Owned & trained by Gareth Price, Brecon.

Open Handicap Mile: 1 Take Flight (Steve Lees); 2 Mill Lane (Sarah Mould); 3 Kentucky Chief (Jamie Davies). 2:9.5. 2L, sht hd. Owned Joyce Morlidge, trained by Paul Evans, Pandy.

Open Handicap Mile: 1 Home Ambrose (Huw Evans); 2 Past Caring (Andrew Rees) 3 Ynys Cerrnyw (Megan Taff). 2:9.8. Hd, hd. Owned & trained by Glyn Davies, Tregaron.

Open Handicap Final: 1 Bon San (Sarah Mould); 2 Greenwood Beth (Jason Podmore); 3 The Big Guy (Paul Holden); 4 Monarch's Gold (MeganTaff). 2:39.0. 1L, 2L. Owned & trained by Lyn Mould, Penkridge.