ETHIOPIA, ridden Jo Knox, was sent off an odds-on favourite to take the Men’s Open race at the Teme Valley Hunt point-to- point fixture at Brampton Bryan on Saturday and the ex-chaser easily took the honours, writes GRAHAM SAVEKER.

A fluent win at the course at the United Meeting meant Ethiopia, trained by Katy Price in Hay-on-Wye, was sent off the 2/5 favourite.

And, while second favourite, The Magherally Man, tried to make a race of it, the 10-year-old Ethiopia easily won by 11 lengths.

Delighted winning owner, Lord David Lipsey, said of his first-ever point-to- pointer: “He’s enjoying pointing, from racing under rules, and has a new lease of life.

“He doesn’t like soft ground and would prefer faster going so the option would be Chaddesley or Bredwardine for him next.”

It was an unusual double for trainer Price, whose grandfather RC Price trained Andyrama to win the same race 27 years ago.

The opening Hunt race saw Fair Point sent off a 4/9 favourite but Walter Wallace and Nick Slatter seemed to be on the point of causing an upset as they were leading the favourite over the final two fences.

As Slatter used his whip though his mount veered sharply to his left cannoning into the favourite Fair Point on the run-in, and Walter Wallace passed the post in front of the favourite by a length-and- a-quarter. Following a stewards’ inquiry into the incident, places were reversed. Jockey Sam Allwood scored a double aboard Lagosta in the Confined and Threapwood in the Intermediate, while most noted horse on the card was Charliewingnut who cheekily took the Restricted race in the hands of rider Alex Edwards, in the style of a horse with a future.

Results: Hunts Members (with United Pack), 12st (7 ran): 1 Fair Point (L Jones) 4-9F, 2 Walter Wallace 5-1, 3 Whispering River 10-1. Confined, 12st (6 ran): 1 Lagosta (S Allwood) 6-4Fav, 2 Mr Melodious 5-2, 3 That’s Ben 3-1.

Men’s Open, 12st (4 ran): 1 Ethiopia (J Knox) 2-5Fav, 2 Alroyal 8-1, 3 Villochely 33-1.

Intermediate, 12st (6 ran): 1 Threapwood (S Allwood) 3-1, 2 The Rubber Man 6-1, 3 Rebel Alliance 5-2Fav.

Ladies’ Open, 11st (6 ran): 1 Invisible Man (J Banks) 5-4JFav, 2 Yabora 4-1, 3 Oscar Rabbit 12-1.

Restricted, 12st (9 ran): 1 Charlie Wingnut (Alex Edwards) 11-10Fav, 2 Cooldine Run 3-1, 3 She’solovely 7-1.

Open Maiden, 12st (15 ran): 1 The Mighty Noake (A Johns) 6-4Fav, 2 Alcarson 7-1, 3 Ahcomeretome 6-1.