The bookmakers were running for cover at Huntingdon Racecourse last Sunday.

Five of the six races on the Annual Beer Festival card at the local track were won by favourites.

That meant it was a smashing afternoon for punters and a costly one for the betting offices.

The market leader - My Brother Sylvest - was beaten into second place in the opening claiming hurdle race, but from then on the jollies did the business.

It was a co-favourite who landed the feature contest, the Macer Gifford Handicap Chase, run in memory of a talented jockey who lost his life in the 1980s.

Jackthejourneyman, ridden by James Davies for trainer Tom Gretton, was sent off at 9-2, and came home a length clear of Norse Light to land the near £6,500 pot.

Conditional jockey Bridget Andrews waved goodbye to the 5lb race allowance she is given when partnering trainer Dan Skelton’s 11-8 shot Late Night Lily to victory in the two-and-a-half mile novices’ hurdle, one of five races sponsored by online casino 32Red.

The most decisive winner on the day was the 11-4 chance Generous Helpings who finished 24 lengths clear of his nearest rival in the handicap hurdle run over three miles and one furlong.

Earlier, Moss Street had also been returned at 11-4 when the only non-favourite to taste success, while the afternoon was rounded off with two odds-on shots – in Hollywood Road and Ballybolley – taking the honours.

The next action at Huntingdon is the Michaelmas Hurdle Day on Tuesday (November 8) and the Winter Ladies’ Day fixture follows on November 19 ahead of the flagship Betfred Peterborough Chase Day on December 4.

The traditional Boxing Day card will then bring the curtain down on 2016.