Knighton Races
On a pleasant afternoon after some early rain Knighton races provided ideal conditions for racing above ground but with testing conditions underfoot. However the result was some very good racing along with the usual anticipatory atmosphere for these races which has seen the start to grass racing in Mid Wales for decades. Once lambing is over it is time to start trotting!
In the first nursery the ‘Cardi’ bred and owned Glan Minstrel (Jones Talgarreg) in the hands of his trainer Derek Pritchard dominated the race, beating another first timer Classic Gold (Gwatkin Evenjobb) with Wellfield Inspired (Edwads Bromfield) in third. In the second nursery race Merry Messenger took another step in his career by winning for the Wellings family from Ludlow, in second was Midnight Traveller (Gwatkin Evenjobb) while True Grit (Thomas Tregroes) was third.
The Novice was a straight race when the square trotter, Belleheir driven by his owner trainer Brent Ladek made all the running to secure victory from Brywins Badlands (Williams Tumble) with Time Traveller (Bevan Llanddewi) in third.
In the first heat of the Grade B, Scoot 66 with Mark Bevan Llanddewi aboard, took top honours; Forgeside Jack now in the Walker stable at Gwernogle was second while Obi Wan Kenobi (Williams Llanafan) took third. In the second heat John Peters Upper Longwood, was re-united with his horse Young Brett, after an accident last year put John on the sidelines. Young Brett showed no ill-will and claimed first prize beating Bon Beti (Evans Jones, Rhymney) into second and Falcon Lobell (Davies Huntington) came in third.
Slower conditions helped the back markers in the Grade A as Purple Rain (Edwards Bromfield) made light of his thirty yard handicap to claim first prize driven as usual by his trainer Melanie Langford from Ludlow, Ithon Ace (Williams Shrewsbury) was second and Double Top (Hitchcock Haverfordwest) was third. In the second heat Boomerang and Alan Peters from Welshpool had 50 yards to make up which they soon achieved, and he went on to sweep up the outside to win from Live the Dream (Langford Pontardawe) with Believe (Crowther Llanidloes) third.
Homebred East of Eden and Derek Pritchard showed great tenacity in the first Baby Novice race beating Glan Master for new owners the Price family from Guilsfield while Ystwyth Gwynfor (Jones Church Stretton) had to be content with third. Derek Pritchard continued in winning form when taking the second Baby Novice with John Gwatkin’s Duggan’s Domino while again Alan Peters was second this time with Hilltop Polly (Gittins Welshpool) while Katie Blue (Williams Shrewsbury) was third.
Wales & Borders provide almost the only saddle racing in mainland Britain and although there were only three entries it will be a great loss if the class should die out all together. Jayne Bevan, top saddle jockey for several years claimed first place with the family’s Time Traveller despite Rebecca Hitchcock’s efforts on Vyrnwy Chef while Bretts Delight and Julie Newey were third.
The highlight of race day are the finals and the Grade B was another exciting race. Scoot 66 has made this one of his favourite courses having won heat and final in 2007 he went on to repeat the performance this year partnered as usual by owner Mark Bevan from Llanddewi, Forgeside Jack (Walker Gwernocle) and driven by Aled Davies was second while Young Brett with ‘genial’ John Peters Upper Longwood was third. In the grade A final Ithon Ace with owner driver Stephen Williams raced to the front taking their favourite position at the head of affairs and although there were plenty of challengers they were not headed and Live the Dream (Langford Pontardawe) was second while Purple Rain (Edwards Bromfield) was third.
Wales & Border Racing has a special affinity to the consolation, perhaps being able to lift a disappointing day by a win at the very last helps with the feel-good factor, and this race was as exciting as any as Maple Star (Prosser Libanus) looked a certain winner but Andrew Bevan from Builth Wells pulled out all the stops on Handsome Butch to secure victory with Harry Penlan (R Lloyd Painscastle) running on into third.
Detailed Results
Race 1 - Nursery | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Glan Minstrel | Gate | £0 | |
2 | Classic Gold | Gate | £0 | |
3 | Wellfield Inspired | Gate | £0 | |
4 | Fold Tinto | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Simply Red II | Gate | £0 | |
Time: 2.436 | ||||
Race 2 - Nursery | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Merry Messenger | Gate | £0 | |
2 | Midnight Traveller | Gate | £0 | |
3 | True Grit II | Gate | £0 | |
4 | Seren Lobell | Gate | £0 | |
99 | C U Boykin | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Hilltop Star | Gate | £0 | |
Time: 2.320 | ||||
Race 3 - Baby Novice | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | East of Eden | Gate | £60 | |
2 | Glan Master | 10 | £30 | |
3 | Ystwyth Gwynfor | 10 | £15 | |
4 | Ithon Artist | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Todays Future | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Lowri Dillon | 10 | £0 | |
Time: 2.301 | ||||
Race 4 - Baby Novice | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Duggans Domino | 10 | £60 | |
2 | Hilltop Polly | Gate | £30 | |
3 | Katie Blue | 10 | £15 | |
4 | Sandside Cash | 10 | £0 | |
99 | Ron Hall | 10 | £0 | |
Time: 2.332 | ||||
Race 5 - Novice | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Belle Heir | Gate | £100 | |
2 | Brywins Badlands | Gate | £40 | |
3 | Time Traveller | 10 | £20 | |
4 | Forgeside Mo | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Handsome Butch | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Maple Star | 20 | £0 | |
Time: 2.249 | ||||
Race 6 - Grade B Heat 1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Scoot Sixty Six | Gate | £30 | |
2 | Forgeside Jack | Gate | £10 | |
3 | Obi Wan Kenobi | 20 | £0 | |
4 | Illalwaysbetheman | 20 | £0 | |
99 | Brets Delight | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Vyrnwy Chef | 10 | £0 | |
Time: 2.224 | ||||
Race 7 - Grade B Heat 2 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Young Brett | 10 | £30 | |
2 | Bon Beti | 10 | £10 | |
3 | Falcon Lobell | Gate | £0 | |
4 | Harry Penlan | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Wellfield Xpense | 20 | £0 | |
Time: 2.271 | ||||
Race 8 - Grade B Final | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Scoot Sixty Six | Gate | £250 | |
2 | Forgeside Jack | Gate | £50 | |
3 | Young Brett | 10 | £30 | |
4 | Falcon Lobell | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Bon Beti | 10 | £0 | |
99 | Obi Wan Kenobi | 20 | £0 | |
99 | Illalwaysbetheman | 20 | £0 | |
Time: 2.236 | ||||
Race 9 - Grade A Heat 1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Purple Rain | 30 | £30 | |
2 | Ithon Ace | Gate | £10 | |
3 | Double Top | Gate | £0 | |
4 | Fold Surprise | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Master T J | 20 | £0 | |
99 | Hilltop Blackbird | 20 | £0 | |
Time: 2.216 | ||||
Race 10 - Grade A Heat 2 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Boomerang II | 50 | £30 | |
2 | Live the Dream | 20 | £10 | |
3 | Bellieve | 10 | £0 | |
4 | Fold Rajah | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Highbrooks Cobra | Gate | £0 | |
Time: 2.256 | ||||
Race 11 - Grade A Final | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Ithon Ace | Gate | £300 | |
2 | Live the Dream | 20 | £60 | |
3 | Purple Rain | 30 | £30 | |
4 | Fold Surprise | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Bellieve | 10 | £0 | |
99 | Double Top | Gate | £0 | |
99 | Boomerang II | 50 | £0 | |
Time: 2.224 | ||||
Race 12 - Saddle | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Time Traveller | Gate | £50 | |
2 | Vyrnwy Chef | 20 | £20 | |
3 | Brets Delight | 10 | £10 | |
Time: 2.232 | ||||
Race 13 - Consolation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
1 | Handsome Butch | Gate | £20 | |
2 | Maple Star | 20 | £10 | |
3 | Harry Penlan | 30 | £5 | |
4 | Highbrooks Cobra | 50 | £0 | |
Time: 2.288 | ||||