A National Hunt racing jockey with strong links to Cardigan had his many supporters in the town smiling all the way to the bank last week.

James Davies – son of Cardigan-born Hywel Davies who won the Grand National on 50/1 outsider Last Suspect in 1985 – has not met with a great amount of success recently but he made up for any disappointments with a fabulous winning double.

The first leg of the 29-year-old’s double success came in the two miles half a furlong handicap chase when he brought home Whispering Harry for trainer Henry Oliver, the partnership staying on well to win by two lengths at odds of 14/1.

Just over an hour later the jockey was again in the winners enclosure after driving the Chris Down-trained Sunshine Buddy to take the lead in the shadow of the winning post at fantastic odds of 33/1 and complete an amazing 510/1 double.

The jockey is a frequent visitor to Cardigan where his grandmother Madge Davies lives and he also has other relatives in the area.