COURSE specialist Land Of Vic made it four wins from as many visits to Ludlow in the EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Chase.

One of three horses in a line at the final fence, the Peter Bowen-trained nine-year-old looked to have blundered her chance away and given the race to the leading Aces Over Eights.

Jockey Sean Bowen recovered and launched the even-money favourite up the run-in and they took the Kerry Lee trained Aces Over Eights by a short head on the line.

Haverfordwest trainer Bowen said: "Two and a half miles would not be ideal for her, but she got there in the end. That's her fourth win here now, so it must be her lucky track.

"It looked like she'd thrown the race away at the last, but all she does is stay. You would not think Ludlow would be ideal for her, as she is not the quickest and she just keeps galloping."

The Donald McCain-trained Valleyofmilan captured the Hunterchase for His Royal Highness Prince Of Wales Challenge Trophy on the card by a length and a half.

Ridden by reigning ladies point-to-point champion Gina Andrews, who controlled the race from the front, Valleyofmilan comfortably held off his challengers to record McCain's first winner at Ludlow for over 1,000 days.

Trainer Noel Williams celebrated his first winner at the track after Theatre Goer benefited from a well-judged ride from the front by William Featherstone in the extended two-mile-seven-furlong mares' handicap hurdle.

The 9-2 shot continued to find plenty from the front to repel the late challenge of Tambura by a length and a half and register her second win under rules.

Nicky Henderson's River Wylde, the 30-100 favourite, had little trouble in following up his recent course success in the novice hurdle,

Elsewhere, Byton trainer Kerry Lee has her sights set on capturing more marathon contests with veteran 12-year-old chaser Alfie Spinner after he rolled back the years to land the Somerset National at Wincanton.

Despite having been off the track for 294 days, Lee's charge made all the running in the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile stamina test, under an enterprising ride from Jamie Moore.

After the close challeger Cyclop fell at the fourth-last, 9-1 shot Alfie Spinner then fought off the challenge of Abracadabra Sivola in the home straight, and two fine jumps at the final two fences and held the David Pipe-trained runner by three lengths.

Lee explained to the Press afterwards : "That was absolutely fantastic. It was 100 per cent job satisfaction. The horse has had his problems. He came to us at the beginning of last season and has only run twice and he is now two from two. Credit to Jamie Moore, as he gave him an absolutely beautiful ride.

"We will have to see where we go now, but Higos Insurance Services also sponsor the Devon National, so we may take him to Exeter and try to win some more of their prize-money there.

"We are pretty pleased with him. It has taken us a long time to get him right, but it just shows what patience can do."