Ton-up for Aidan Coleman at Ludlow

Aidan Coleman reached 100 winners for the second successive season with a smooth victory on Marcilhac in the Forbra Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ludlow.A former stable jockey to winning trainer Venetia Williams, Coleman was content to sit just off the pace set by Dusky Lark before he asked Marcilhac (100-30) to take even closer order as they turned for home with four fences to jump.Going on two out, Marcilhac drew away on the run-in to score by eight lengths from 3-1 favourite Nansaroy.Coleman said: "I think I was stable jockey to Venetia for six or seven years. I basically started there after a year at Henrietta Knight's, so it's been a long association."Marcilhac is a big-framed horsed and it's took him a long time to mature. It's nice to see he's fulfilling his potential."Williams, who also had a winner at Taunton with Huff And Puff, initiated a Ludlow treble with Kap Jazz (10-11 favourite). The seven-year-old defied a 7lb penalty for a victory at Carlisle 10 days earlier in the novices' limited handicap chase.Ridden by 3lb claimer Charlie Deutsch, Kap Jazz jumped ahead two out after Some Are Lucky had made the running and bounded away to win by two lengths."He's always been one of those slow burners and one we've always liked. It's nice to see he's got his confidence now," Williams told Racing UK."He's one of those horses that has taken time to get his mind right. I think longer trips will suit him in time. It was a minimum test today."Deutsch steered home Centurius (11-8 favourite) to cap a red-letter day for the Williams team in the Clive Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.A 20lb rise for a course and distance success six weeks ago failed to stop Seymour Star (8-1) from following up in the Henman Marquees 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.Alastair Ralph's nine-year-old travelled sweetly in front from the outset for Andrew Tinkler and had enough in reserve to hold Baron Du Plessis by three and a half lengths.Billy Hicks (6-1) got off the mark under Rules with an all-the-way win in the Three Counties Equine Hospital Novices' Hurdle.Wearing a hood for the first time, the David England-ridden six-year-old held the 11-8 favourite Be My Sea by two and a quarter lengths, despite making a mistake at the final flight, to give trainer Sam Drinkwater his first success at the Shropshire track.Storming into the lead from three out, Paul Webber's Miss Tongabezi (6-1) ran out a convincing 10-length winner of the Racing UK Profits Returned to Racing Mares' Handicap Hurdle under 10lb claimer Fergus Gregory.Sahara Haze was disqualified from second place after his rider Tom Greatrex weighed in 2lb light.Greatrex was banned for two days, the dates to be notified by the British Horseracing Authority, while the horse's trainer Phillip Dando was fined £500.Two Swallows was promoted to the runner-up spot.Persian Snow (1-2 favourite) held Colbert Station by a neck in the hunter chase for trainer Philip Hobbs and amateur rider/owner David Maxwell.Jonjo O'Neill junior, rider of Colbert Station, was given a two-day ban for the use of his whip.