TRAINER Phil Rowley and jockey Alex Edwards will look to consolidate their leads in their respective national championships when Chaddesley Corbett hosts its final race meeting of the season.

The course, between Kidderminster and Bromsgrove, will again see a packed seven-race programme start from 1.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday (May 28).

With the season drawing to a close, Edwards holds a healthy lead over reigning champion Will Biddick in the race for the riders' title.

Just three weekends remain after Monday's meeting so it would need a dramatic turn round in Biddick’s fortunes to prevent the local rider from securing his first National Championship.

Rowley is pulling out all the stops to help the rider achieve that ambition, but it also help him consolidate his position in the trainers' championship. He is six wins clear going into this weekend’s fixtures.

The meeting starts with the novice riders event at 1.30 pm, where Aupcharlie is tasked with providing Michaela Tallett with her first success.

The jockey is seen as an integral part of Rowley’s Popular Court stables, but that first winner is proving very elusive as the partnership have been runners-up on all three outings this season.

They have been unlucky to come up against some useful horses and unfortunately for them that is likely to be the case on Monday, because Aerlite Supreme and William Money are going to be very difficult to crack.

Rowley and Edwards have a close association but when the situation allows the jockey teams up with other trainers, including Diana Ralph and that could pay dividends in the closing weeks of the season.

Entries for the men’s open include the Rowley-trained Bears Affair who is likely to start a warm favourite. However, if he fails to meet his engagement Edwards could renew his partnership with Drumhart who fought out a close finish with Againn Dul Aghaidh at the last meeting. They meet on level terms whereas Drumhart was conceding weight to his rival when they last met.

Ralph has also entered Old Pride, while Argot and Jimmy the Jetplane are others to note as is Teeton Kato who will be stepping up in class.

Namako has won his last two races for the Rowley/Edwards axis, but the horse has alternative engagements over the weekend so Edwards has the chance to team up with last weekend's winner Rockinrolldixie.

The warmer weather has seen a dramatic transformation in this horse’s fortunes as he followed his win at Maisemore Park with another impressive performance at Bredwardine.

The Alan Hill-trained Hawkhurst is the one they all have to beat, while Kit Barry looks a useful performer based on his Cheltenham run.

It is difficult to look beyond Arthurs Secret in the Ladies Open, although he holds an entry for a Worcester Hunter Chase on Friday evening and that may be the preference.

Local hopes rest with Maybe Plenty and Well Mett, but they will find it difficult to live with Patricktom Boru and Watch the Birdie who revel in prevailing conditions and both will be difficult to peg back.

Meanwhile, 24 horses have been entered for the restricted, including Golanzine who would have won at Knightwick but for a last fence mistake. He has been beaten since but the course and conditions should play to his strengths.

Gadrose may need another season to show her best, but that does not mean she cannot win and add to Rowley and Edwards' tally.

Marcle Ridge finally got his act together at the last meeting, where he jumped off in front and never saw another rival.