EASTNOR trainer Nickie Sheppard saddled two horses in the concluding event on a marathon North Ledbury point-to-point card.

Umoristic and Duke of Spain went clear of their rivals by the second from home in the two-and-a-half mile maiden’s second division.

There was not much between the two stablemates but Umoristic asserted as they raced towards the judge at Hereford Racecourse.

The winner was bought privately by connections to replace Lacunae and the experience gained at Cocklebarrow proved vital against the unraced Duke of Spain, who carried the colours of the Farmers Arms syndicate from Birtsmorton.

Umoristic runs for The Bean Club, organised by Sheppard’s sister Sue Bird, and benefitted from a fine ride by the trainer’s son Stan.

The first division of the maiden went to the Tom Weston-trained Tyre Hill Lady, who was home bred by Hanley Swan’s Clive Hitchings out of race mare Springbrook Girl.

The owner was away on holiday and the Hindlip trainer was recovering from punctured lungs sustained at the Cheltenham Festival, but Will Telfer proved an able deputy jockey, edging out My Fair Rose.

The day started well for Telfer when he teamed up with Tim Eades’ Storridge stable to comfortably take the Members race with favourite In The Dock by 25 lengths.

Eades said: “Will used his experience and sent him to the front early on to exploit his fitness as some of his rivals lacked a run.

“He gets lazy in front and most go right-handed so we will look at an Exeter Hunter Chase.”

Dymock owner Clive Bennett celebrated winners on consecutive days after Stone scored a well-deserved success in the Men’s Open.

Anger Management and Count Salazar could not shake off the attentions of Stone as Jeremy Mahot sent his mount to the front at the final obstacle.

Trainer Kirsty Adcock said: “He struggled last year so has had a wind operation and that has helped.”

The well-fancied Invisible Man and Sagalyrique ran disappointingly in the Ladies’ Open. Mae Daffern did well to recover from a bad mistake by Basil Fawlty at the first but they were still in front until challenged by Gauvain, who proceeded to open up an unassailable lead.

Cold Knight started favourite for the confined race but petered out tamely over the final two fences, which allowed Hannah Watson to record her second win of the afternoon on Swift Escape.

RESULTS Members: 1 In the Dock (W Telfer, evens fav), 2 Brize Norton, 3 The Ferbane Man. 7 ran.

Ladies’ Open: 1 Gauvain (H Watson, 6-1), 2 Basil Fawlty, 3 Invisible Man. 8 ran.

Restricted: 1 Minellacelebration (J Nixon, 5-1), 2 War Path, 3 Jack Joner. 15 ran.

Men’s Open: 1 Stone (J Mahot, 7-1), 2 Anger Management, 3 Count Salazar. 13 ran.

Confined: 1 Swift Escape (H Watson, 12-1), 2 Spit, 3 Tullraine. 10 ran.

Three-mile maiden division one: 1 Frelia (B Gibbs, 4-1), 2 Twilight Fox, 3 Canopy of Stars. 15 ran.

Division two: 1 Always a Chance (H Worsley, 6-1), 2 Earth Tremor, 3 Barefacedcheck. 14 ran.

Two-and-a-half mile maiden division one: 1 Tyre Hill Lady (W Telfer, 3-1 fav), 2 My Fair Rose, 3 Ballymacahillcross. 15 ran.

Division two: 1 Umoristic (S Sheppard, 10-1), 2 Duke of Spain, 3 Star Rise. 10 ran.

Meanwhile, the members race at Sunday’s Ledbury meeting at Maisemore Park, near Gloucester, provides an interesting contrast between generations.

Veteran John Chinn is due to ride Murphys Fusilier and rookie Ed Bailey the Nickie Sheppard-trained Royal Riviera.

A double last weekend for Adcock’s Dymock stable showed her horses are in good heart and conditions will be to Raleagh House’s liking.

Owner Hitchings will be keen for Over the Phone to deliver in the club race.

The two-mile, five-furlong maiden sees four-year-old Twister Mix ridden by Redmarley’s James Ridley and she will receive weight from most of her rivals.

The first race sets off at 2pm.