HUDSON Yard galloped to an impressive victory in division one of the two-and-a-half mile maiden during Friday’s Harkaway Club fixture at Chaddesley Corbett.

However, his owner/trainer Ciaran O'Brien revealed afterwards that Sir Anthony McCoy has been responsible for the horse’s preparation since she came over from Ireland two months ago.

With his Lambourn-based breaking and pre-training business entering one of its quieter periods, a decision was made to see if they could be competitive on the point-to-point scene and that venture got off to a flying start with Hudson Yard’s success on her racecourse debut.

O’Brien and McCoy have extensive contacts in Ireland and that resulted in the four-year-old filly joining their fledgling enterprise. Unfortunately, due to prior commitments at Leopardstown, the 20-times champion jockey was unable to travel to the Worcestershire venue but was made aware of the success immediately after the race.

The filly was holding the challenge of General Arrow in the home straight, however Ericsbar was still in contention when he hit the top of the final obstacle although Hudson Yard was in full control at this point and it is doubtful if that fall made any difference to the result.

The meeting started on a good note for local stables when Immy Robinson steered Myoldman to victory in the restricted contest. Buffalo Sabre and Zac Baker hit the front on the final bend and looked set for victory before Miss Robinson produced Myoldman with impeccable timing between the final two fences.

Three lengths down at the penultimate fence, she had the winner on level terms at the final obstacle and stayed on dourly to claim the lead halfway up the run-in.

Successful in an Irish Maiden in April 2018 he was sold for a modest sum at Goff’s the following month. He now runs in the colours of Robinson and her co-owner Rob Martin and is trained by the rider’s mother Caroline at Sheriffhales.

The Ladies' Open produced a top-class finish between three top class horses. Golden Tobouggan and Arthurs Secret were vying for the lead as the field went out onto their final circuit, with Virak close on their heels and TB Broke Her still just in touch.

Hannah Lewis’s mount felt the pressure soon afterwards while Arthur's Secret began to struggle as the leaders turned back towards home. Claire Hardwick and Golden Tobouggan looked to be getting the better of the argument with Virak but Natalie Parker’s mount showed his class as he forged clear between the final two fences and had a six-length advantage as they passed the judge.

Reigning champion rider and trainer Alex Edwards and Phil Rowley rarely leave this meeting without a winner but had to wait until late in the afternoon before Hazel Hill prevailed in the men's open.

The 10-year-old has only been beaten once between the flags but Enville-based owner Diana Williams and Morville trainer Phil Rowley took their time before deciding to let Hazel Hill take his chance.

Always on the Run set the early pace and was still in front on the final climb but his effort petered out as the favourite took the lead on the home bend.

Petrou then made his bid for glory but the winner forged clear between the final two fences and quickly opened up an unassailable lead.

Mrs Williams, along with Judith Healey and Jen Hancox are all stalwarts of the Harkaway meeting and point-to-pointing in general so this proved a popular success.

Before Hazel Hill’s victory, Edwards and Rowley had suffered several setbacks, most notably when Levasseur could not peg back Tiger Sun in division two of the short maiden and later in the afternoon Sego Success had to settle for second spot behind Risk a Fine in the conditions race.

Tigers Son was always in the vanguard but had to face a strong challenge from the favourite over the final two fences but had sufficient reserves to hold Levasseur’s renewed effort on the flat.

This success was the first leg of a double for Warwickshire rider Gina Andrews who has won the national ladies riders title for the last four seasons and is already staking her claim for a fifth.

Her second success came in the final race of a long day when Classico Dais clung onto his lead to claim the three-mile Maiden.

Luca Morgan landed the novice riders race on the Johnny Farrelly-trained Portrait King to win the Hanley Mills Award for the best performance by a novice rider.

The 25-1 outsider had a protracted battle with the well supported Summer Sounds throughout the final mile, with the latter holding a fractional lead at the penultimate but Portrait Kings stamina proved crucial in the closing stages.