CHIEF Sittingbull secured a win for the smaller yards when overcoming Phil Rowley's hot favourite Lilith in a match race in the two-and-a-half mile maiden at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday.

With it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller stables to match the facilities of the bigger establishments in the sport, it was refreshing to see the six-year-old runner for Worcestershire-based Sue Bowen claiming the win.

Chief Sittingbull had run under rules for Tony Carroll earlier in the year but is now with Bowen and was ridden by daughter Sarah.

The jockey was keen to make use of her mounts experience against the Rowley making her racecourse debut but in receipt of a 21lb allowance.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Chief Sittingbull was more competent than his rival at the early obstacles and that put the favourite at an immediate disadvantage.

Bowen’s mount was two lengths clear on the final bend and it was immediately obvious that Lilith was struggling to stay in contention and Bowen only had to push her mount out with hands and heels to confirm their superiority on the flat.

Having been out of luck in the second race, Rowley and jockey Alex Edwards teamed up to take the three-mile maiden with The Odissey.

The four-runner race was immediately reduced to three when Mahler Hill departed at the first and the race became a match when Dover the Moon went at halfway.

Round Robin had adopted his customary front running tactics prior to that but a mistake at the open ditch soon put him on the back foot.

The Odissey began to drew clear climbing the final hill and increased his advantage in the closing stages as Round Robin was placed for the 18th time.

Things have really turned around for Laverton trainer Emma Alvis in recent weeks and her winning run continued following Rye Cross’s success in the mixed open.

The Dymock-based rider then teamed up with Stone in the 10-year-old and over conditions race, where they faced a formidable rival in Ballyboker Breeze. These two had a significant advantage over their rivals down the back straight with Stone maintaining a two-length gap until Zac Baker produced his mount to grab the lead between the final two fences.

Lucy Turner was content to let others cut out the donkey work during the first half of the restricted race but she moved Hott Lips closer to the action down the back straight.

Rules of War held a narrow advantage climbing the final hill but Turner timed her run to perfection with her mount joining the leader at the last before going clear on the flat.

This was another family affair with the winner carrying the colours Stratford on Avon based Richard Evans. The home bred mare is trained by his son Sam and was following up her success at Barbury earlier in the season.

Black Jack Rover proved far too strong in the the novice riders' race.