THE West Midlands point-to-point season begins on Friday morning with the Harkaway Club meet.

The first race is off at 10.30am at Chaddesley Corbett and Bridgnorth handler Phil Rowley aims for a repeat after saddling three winners at last year's event.

Rowley sent out 29 winners in 2016-17 and the area's leading trainer has continued his good work so far.

The opening two-and-a-half mile restricted race has 32 entries with Palmaria to be feared if coming up from the West Country.

Others with useful form include Full Batten, Easy on Sunday and Captain Kennit.

Lily’s Got Wings led her rivals a merry dance at Barbury and was just in front of The Sting when the Rowley runner departed at the final obstacle on her racecourse debut.

The trainer fields his Cold Harbour Maiden winner Champagne Lilly and has no qualms about running victorious Pique Rock over the shorter distance.

Martin Weston’s Hindlip-trained Double You Be could challenge after the five-year-old won an Irish Maiden last year before being bought at Cheltenham sales in November.

There are a lot of unknown quantities in the two-and-half mile maiden with many lacking form but having potential.

The Sting is among the entries despite her fall and Rowley has a useful second string in Call Claude who ran twice in bumpers for Kim Bailey and the four-year-old will get a useful weight allowance.

The Weston stable hold three entries in Iwasthefutureonce, The Late Legend and Dannys Star whose two previous third places did not match early predictions.

The men's open is worth the entry money and Rowley holds the key with Temple Grandin and Now Ben.

Iberico was successful at Barbury where he did well to concede 6lb to Lilbitluso who will need to improve to turn the tables.

Battle Dust, Johnny Og and Maybe Plenty have been plying their trade under Rules and may need time to adapt to point-to-points.

Bay Sly is a confirmed front-runner but was beaten a long way from home at Cottenham.

Supreme Danehill never runs a bad race while the Rucker’s Wild Bill won last year’s contest and could repeat the success.

Welsh raiders Colorado Doc and Frelia are others to consider.

Scare Toi has a chance at higher odds with novice rider George Daly.

The ladies' open sees the reappearance of Sybarite who finished second last year and is a potential winner.

Foxcub ran well at Cottenham while Invisible Man has shown his best form in these races.

Big Casino finished third recently and Ally Sterling's presence in the saddle is another bonus.

The conditions is another race on Rowley’s hit list as Namako still sets a useful standard despite being one of the lesser lights of his stable.

In the Hold, Rockinrolldixie and Creepy are among the rivals while Bally River Boy has been placed in a few Irish point-to-points and Executive Benefit has a course win to his credit.

Chasforgold has improved since last year, won at Barbury and has a course success too.

The three-mile maiden invariably provides plenty of winners later in the campaign.

Round Robin knocked on the door last season but struggled to get his head in front while Blue Rhythm is the type to do well in this event with some form under Rules.

Ask the Guvnor, The Oppidan, Benjamin Leader, Grove Castle and The Late Legend are others to watch.

Marcle Ridge seems to have everything in his favour for Clive Bennett's in-form stable.

The novice riders includes the experienced Brians Well and Bivouac plus Milled and Minella Friend but it may pay to take a chance with Toowoomba.