LEADING jockey Tony McCoy starred at Ludlow Racecourse aboard Ebony Empress, writes Graham Saveker.

The 2010 Grand National winner won the two mile five furlong racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle for trainer Neil Mullholland.

Ebony Empress was the 11/4 favourite going into the race.

Elsewhere, Until Winning ran out a well-backed winner which saw him confirm the promise of his two previous runs despite an injury forced 22-month absence.

Trainer Tom George’s seven-year-old had dropped six pounds in the weights despite showing he retained ability on two runs over fences recently and he opened his account over jumps in the TurfTV Handicap Chase.

Ridden by George’s retained jockey Paddy Brennan the well-backed 2/1 favourite came through to lead at the third-last fence and stayed on strongly to score by seven lengths from runner-up Kerryhead Storm.

“He won it nicely and it worked out well for us,” said George.

“His owners have been very patient and have been rewarded with a nice horse.”

Richard Johnson was back in the winners enclosure aboard Tony Star for trainer Phillip Hobbs as the 8/1 shot got off the mark over fences at the thirteenth attempt in the Watch Racing UK Anywhere Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Beltor put up a promising performance on his debut over obstacles to win the Watch On 3 Devices Racing UK Juvenile Hurdle.

The well-backed One For The Guv’nr landed the odds of 4/6 favourite in some style in the Rincon Del Puerto ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle.

The six-year-old pulled hard early on in the race for David Bass, but Nicky Henderson’s charge came home an easy ten lengths clear of runner-up Seven Nation Army.