Champagne day for Ludlow course clerk Bob Davies

The first that Ludlow clerk of the course and secretary Bob Davies knew it was going to be a rather special day was the moment he opened the racecourse and noticed that the title of the fifth race had been changed.

Instead of being the Christmas Fayre at Ludlow Chase on yesterday's card, the race had became the 'Bob Davies A Lifetime In Racing Handicap Chase' to recognise Racing Welfare's award to the man who has been at the south Shropshire course for 27 years.

Davies was presented with his award by former jockeys Stan Mellor and Bob Champion and he said: "This has been a special day for me and my family.

"It was my father who first brought me to Ludlow and little did I realise then that I would spend a great deal of my life here after riding at the course."

And Davies was delighted to receive his award from two old pals.

"It was also great to see Stan and Bob again," he said.

Davies was also praised by Ludlow chairman Willie Jenks for his dedication to racing - and to Ludlow in particular.

As for the race itself, it was won by the Evan Williams-trained River Rhapsody.