FOR THE second time in six weeks, the ground staff at Uttoxeter Racecourse saved an afternoon's racing from the wintry weather.

The surface was covered in fleeces to protect it from frost and racing got the green light following a mid-morning inspection.

That benefited some big-hitting punters who wagered money on the red-hot favourite Banjaxed Girl in the opening A&S Enterprises Ltd Mares' Novices' Hurdle. The race was rarely in doubt and the mare trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies won at odds of 1-3.

Only two horses managed to finish the Chemtech Novices' Handicap Chase, with the Welsh-trained Tokpela prevailing at 20-1 under amateur jockey John Mathias.

The Betfair Training Series Conditional Jockeys' Selling Hurdle provided another winner for Wales, with Lightening Fire (5-1) triumphing for the stables of John Llewellyn.

The 9-2 chance Karky Schultz won over hurdles for the first time in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Novices' Handicap Hurdle, while Pelo Du Bief (9-4) took the Mark Crank Memorial Handicap Chase.

The closing Banner Marquees Handicap Hurdle went the way of 4-1 fancy Zaffarella, brought all the way south from central Scotland for the race.

The next fixture – Tote Race Day – at Uttoxeter is on Saturday, February 20. The first race is scheduled for 1.40pm.