WORCESTERSHIRE trainer Sam Drinkwater celebrated success in Worcester Racecourse’s first run of the new season.

The Strensham handler’s Northandsouth, owned by Strensham Stragglers, was a 13/2 winner in the Racing To School Handicap Chase.

Northandsouth and Bryony Frost swooped by three-and-a-half lengths from Heurtevent with the second place trained by Tony Carroll in Cropthorne.

Frost also led Oskar Denarius to victory in the final race while fellow jockey Robert Dunne completed a double aboard Cropley and Fifty Shades.

The Worcester News Handicap Hurdle was claimed by Alcester trainer Dan Skelton with Frankie Rapper (9/4 favourite).

RESULTS

1.40pm Racing To School Handicap Chase: 1 Northandsouth 13/2 S Drinkwater Bryony Frost, 2 Heurtevent 6/1 3½L A W Carroll Harry Bannister, 3 Shininstar 12/1 5L J Groucott Miss L Brooke, 4 Key To The West 9/1 2¾L J L Spearing Fergus Gregory.

2.10pm Martin & Co (Worcester) Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1 Cropley 5/1 D Burchell R T Dunne, 2 Youngoconnor 10/1 9L Christian Williams Wayne Hutchinson, 3 Great Tempo 9/2 1¼L D Pipe T Scudamore, 4 Le Curieux 4/1 Fav 4L B G Powell Brendan Powell.

2.45pm Weatherbys Stallion Book Handicap Chase: 1 Fifty Shades 10/1 Christian Williams R T Dunne, 2 Alf ‘n’ Dor 5/1 6L P Bowen Sean Bowen, 3 Vendredi Trois 20/1 15L Miss E C Lavelle Adam Wedge, 4 Fear Glic 11/1 17L Miss J Du Plessis Mr Rex Dingle.

3.20pm Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Selling Hurdle: 1 Rock Of Leon 13/8 Fav P A Kirby Nathan Moscrop, 2 Searching 9/4 1½L G L Moore A Glassonbury, 3 West To Crossgales 25/1 2L C T Pogson A Pogson, 4 Cease To Surrender 22/1 16L H Tett Mr F Tett.

3.55pm 7bets4free.com Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (Div 1): 1 Peggies Venture 4/5 Fav A King Wayne Hutchinson, 2 Lady Maleficent 9/1 5L D Skelton Harry Skelton, 3 Rose Of Cimarron 8/1 8L W Greatrex Harry Bannister, 4 Everlanes 7/2 1¼L A J Honeyball R P McLernon.

4.25pm 7bets4free.com Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (Div 2): 1 Blackdown Hills 7/4 Fav J W Mullins A Thornton, 2 Hurlstone Point 7/1 3L P J Hobbs Sean Houlihan, 3 Jennifer Juniper 13/2 7L F O’Brien A P Cawley, 4 Maggies Legend 15/8 1L A M Hales Conor Shoemark.

4.55pm Worcester News Handicap Hurdle: 1 Frankie Rapper 9/4 Fav D Skelton Harry Skelton, 2 Lady Mix 7/2 1L N J Hawke Tom Buckley, 3 Church Hall 13/2 4½L Miss E Baker Brendan Powell, 4 Market Road 13/2 2L Evan Williams Miss Isabel Williams.

5.25pm Eventsi Marquee Hire Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: 1 (6) Oskar Denarius 5/2 Fav B Pauling Bryony Frost, 2 Navajo War Dance 17/2 1¾L Ali Stronge Lorcan Murtagh, 3 Catchin Time 20/1 Miss L Hurley Charlie Hammond, 4 Sweeping Rock 8/1 4½L J L Spearing Charlie Deutsch.