ASTON Rowant rider Joe Hill, fresh from securing one national title, will be looking to step up his challenge for another one at the Berks & Bucks Draghounds Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Cokethorpe School student captured the Wilkinson Sword prize for the leading novice men’s rider aged under 21 who hadn’t ridden a winner at the start of the season with a double at Stafford Cross, near Seaton, in Devon on Saturday.

His brace of winners came courtesy of a walkover on Dr Cerullo in the members and a 12-length romp aboard Ravethebrave in the club members’ race for novice riders.

That took his tally to nine, and with the competition closing last weekend ahead of the Point-to-Point Owners’ & Riders’ Association jamboree at Stratford tonight, it confirmed Hill as the champion.

He is also sharing the lead in the race for the Fullers novice men riders’ title with Harry Bannister, and will be hoping to add to his total at Kingston Blount.

His rides could include Viel Gluck in the intermediate and Fly Direct in the men’s open for his father, owner-trainer Alan Hill.

The Aston Rowant handler has also entered More Trouble, a winner at Garthorpe last Saturday, in the men’s open.

Balladeer, who scored in impressive fashion at the last Kingston meeting for Hill and Emily Harbour, is set to bid to repeat last year’s success in the ladies’ open where the trainer could also run What’s Up Doc.

The open maiden has also attracted an intriguing entry in Fiddle-Faddle, owned by HRH The Princess Royal.

The first of six races is 2.30pm.