DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 21 AND 22 FEBRUARY

After no racing took place last weekend, Saturday and Sunday again proved successful for West Mercian and South Midlands horses, owners, trainers and riders, with involvement in no fewer than ten winners at three of the four meetings held nationwide.

Jeremy Hill (centre) with James King and trainer's son Joe Hill (no relation) after Drayton Flyer's win

Star of the show was West Mercian-based owner Jeremy Hill, looking for his first winner. He ran his entire string of three… and all of them were victorious! Drayton Flyer, trained by Alan Hill and ridden by James King, won the Maiden at Lincolnshire track Brocklesby Park on Saturday, while he completed a double at Badbury Rings in Dorset on Sunday with Illico De Cotte in the Ladies Open and Dollanstown in the second division of the Maiden. Dollanstown was part of a treble on the card for Ed Doggrell, while Illico De Cotte was a first ever winner for Molly Armytage, daughter of former leading amateur Marcus. Will she emulate him by going on to win the Grand National?

James King and Couer D'Alene won again at Badbury Rings (Marilyn Sweet)

Ed had made a much longer trip, up to Alnwick in Northumberland, on Saturday where he teamed up with Chris Barber to take the Young Horse Maiden with Titi Monmartre. Chris himself joined James King in doubling up over the weekend, when the pair combined to win a division of the Restricted with the impressive Couer D’Alene.

Bass Rock and Lucas Murphy - completed hat-trick on Sunday (Marilyn Sweet)

Also at Badbury Rings, Bass Rock completed a hat-trick for trainer Harry Brown and jockey Lucas Murphy – who is bang in contention for the national novice rider title – and Docket Man, Ledbury-qualified as he was formerly owned and trained by Tom Lacey, took a division of the Maiden.

Back to Brocklesby Park, Midnight River won the Mixed Open in the hands of Heidi Palin for trainer Bridget Skelton, following-up his Chaddesley Corbett success in December.