Kington
Another glorious summer day and this is how we all remember trotting especially when looking back on this old established fixture run by the Kington and Vale of Arrow committee. Kington has played host to trotting since the early part of the last century and this meeting has been running since the 1960s however the racing on Saturday would not have been bettered in all that time.
Garage owners the Evans family from Brecon have two outstanding prospects in their homebreds: Koh Lanta (named after a Thailand island) who won the first Nursery and My Imortal second in the third Nursery both bred from their exceptional race mare Morello. Glan Minstrel (Jones Talgarreg) and Aberelan (Morgan Rhymney) were second and third to Koh Lanta. First time out Ithon Express from the well known Bevan of Maesmynis stable took first prize in the second nursery with Simply Red (Rogers Asterton) and Seren Penlan (R Lloyd Painscastle) in the placings. Man of the Day (Harries Llanllwni) won the third with Midnight Traveller (Gwatkin Evenjobb) third.
Andrew the youngest of the Maesmynis Bevan brothers seems to have inspired Handsome Butch as he asked him for a good effort to win the Novice heat for his co-owner Dave Sargeant of Newbridge beating Family Circle (Barton Clunderwen) and Miss Muddy Paws (Davies Huntington). In the second heat the square trotter Belleheir trotted like a demon for his blacksmith owner Brent Ladek from Cleobury Mortimer keeping the pacers back, Coalford Time (Hardwick Brecon) was second and Time Traveller (Bevan Llanddewi) was third.
Wellfield Xpense and Melanie Langford the National Hunt ‘stable lass’ from Ludlow took top honours in the first heat of the Grade B beating the race-day chairman Trish Dugdale’s Top Cat and Hilltop Flame (Lewis Presteigne) on her season’s debut. In the second heat the in form Obi Wan Kenobi again showed he’s a ‘star in the making’ as Derek Pritchard steered him to victory for the Williams family from Llanafan while Forgeside Jack (Walker Gwernogle) battled for second while Scoot 66 (Bevan Llanddewi) and Young Brett (Peters, Upper Longwood) took the minor placings.
The grade A heats feature the class horses of racing and one of the most popular, off a 40 yard trail Boomerang made the most of the long finishing straight to claim victory for the Peters family from Welshpool in second was Best Man (Owens Shobdon) and Believe (Crowther Llanidloes) was third. The other ‘northern’ horse Ithon Ace belonging to one time team chaser Stephen Williams from Shrewsbury took the second heat with the old favourite Scoot along Sam (Powell Merthyr Cynog) second and Fold Rajah (Perks Presteigne) was third.
Stephen Williams from Shrewsbury scored a back to back double as he drove his little mare Katie Blue to victory in the first Baby Novice race with Duggan’s Domino (Gwatkin Evenjobb) second and Dafydd’s Boy (Harries Llanllwni) in third, Katie Blue now moves up into the Novices. East of Eden was first in the other Baby Novice driven by Derek Pritchard from Rhosgoch who bred this mare from his most successful race mare Joint Account and she looks certain to take over the mantle of that illustrious mare. Ithon Artist (Wozencraft, Llangurig) was second and Lowri Dillon (Jenkins Llanrhystud) was third.
The next race on the card was the mile and a half, this was the most popular distances for trotting in the ‘old days’ and often produces an interesting race. One of the specialists in the longer distance is Bretts Delight owned by Denny Evans from Newtown a character in his own right, while the horse is trained by Julie Newey from Llandinam it was Alan Peters who steered him to victory in front of Harry Penlan (R Lloyd Painscastle) and Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen).
The day ended with the three finals, in the Novice the Bevan Sargeant from Builth partnership were successful when Handsome Butch repeated his heat win to the joy of young Liam who collected the cup, while Coalford Time (Hardwick Brecon) was second and Time Traveller (Bevan Llanddewi) was third. Another youngster claimed the cup in the Grade B on behalf of his mother Helen Williams from Llanafan the trainer of Obi Wan Kenobi as his victory moves him into the premiere section of the sport, Scoot 66 (Bevan Llanddewi) ran on into second and Young Brett (Peters Upper Longwood) was third. In the Grade A final it was the striking Ithon Ace who extended up the home straight in front with owner / driver Stephen Williams in the seat, Best Man (Owens Shobdon) followed in second while Believe (Crowther Llanidloes) was third.
So ended a memorable day with entertaining racing, next weekend the racing is at Talgarreg in Ceredigion on Sunday 15th June 2 pm start.
Detailed Results
| Race 1 - Nursery | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Koh Lanta | Gate | £0 | |
| 2 | Glan Minstrel | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Aberelan | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Johnny Cotton | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Wellfield Inspired | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Classic Gold | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.298 | ||||
| Race 2 - Nursery | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Ithon Express | Gate | £0 | |
| 2 | Simply Red II | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Seren Lobell | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Quick Silver II | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Solo Run II | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Highbrooks Teebeau | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.466 | ||||
| Race 3 - Nursery | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Man Of The Day | Gate | £0 | |
| 2 | My Immortal | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Midnight Traveller | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Fold Tinto | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Highbrooks Teebeau | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | The Red Devil | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.268 | ||||
| Race 4 - Baby Novice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Katie Blue | 20 | £60 | |
| 2 | Duggans Domino | 20 | £20 | |
| 3 | Dafydds Boy | 10 | £10 | |
| 4 | True Grit II | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Sandside Cash | 10 | £0 | |
| 99 | Merry Messenger | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Hilltop Polly | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Cotton Spirit | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.222 | ||||
| Race 5 - Baby Novice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | East of Eden | 10 | £60 | |
| 2 | Ithon Artist | Gate | £20 | |
| 3 | Lowri Dillon | 10 | £10 | |
| 4 | Glan Master | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Todays Future | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | The Crusader | 10 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.248 | ||||
| Race 6 - Novice Heat 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Handsome Butch | Gate | £30 | |
| 2 | Family Circle | 20 | £0 | |
| 3 | Miss Muddy Paws | 10 | £0 | |
| 4 | Forgeside Mo | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Red Adair | 10 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.187 | ||||
| Race 7 - Novice Heat 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Belle Heir | 10 | £30 | |
| 2 | Coalford Time | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Time Traveller | 10 | £0 | |
| 4 | The Sizzler | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Maple Star | 20 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.213 | ||||
| Race 8 - Novice Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Handsome Butch | Gate | £200 | |
| 2 | Coalford Time | Gate | £50 | |
| 3 | Time Traveller | 10 | £30 | |
| 4 | Miss Muddy Paws | 10 | £0 | |
| 99 | Belle Heir | 10 | £0 | |
| 99 | Family Circle | 20 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.214 | ||||
| Race 9 - Grade B Heat 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Wellfield Xpense | 10 | £30 | |
| 2 | Top Cat | 20 | £0 | |
| 3 | Hilltop Flame | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Brets Delight | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Harry Penlan | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Falcon Lobell | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.193 | ||||
| Race 10 - Grade B Heat 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Obi Wan Kenobi | 10 | £30 | |
| 2 | Forgeside Jack | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Scoot Sixty Six | 10 | £0 | |
| 4 | Young Brett | 10 | £0 | |
| 99 | Gangster | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Blackfield Willy | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.166 | ||||
| Race 11 - Grade B Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Obi Wan Kenobi | 10 | £400 | |
| 2 | Scoot Sixty Six | 10 | £60 | |
| 3 | Young Brett | 10 | £30 | |
| 4 | Wellfield Xpense | 10 | £0 | |
| 99 | Top Cat | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Hilltop Flame | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Forgeside Jack | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.187 | ||||
| Race 12 - Grade A Heat 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Boomerang II | 40 | £40 | |
| 2 | Bestman | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Bellieve | 30 | £0 | |
| 4 | Fold Surprise | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Hilltop Blackbird | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Proud Girl | 40 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.179 | ||||
| Race 13 - Grade A Heat 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Ithon Ace | 10 | £40 | |
| 2 | Scoot Along Sam | 30 | £0 | |
| 3 | Fold Rajah | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Master T J | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Jeffry | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.178 | ||||
| Race 14 - Grade A Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Ithon Ace | 10 | £500 | |
| 2 | Bestman | Gate | £80 | |
| 3 | Bellieve | 30 | £40 | |
| 4 | Fold Rajah | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Scoot Along Sam | 30 | £0 | |
| 99 | Boomerang II | 40 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.179 | ||||
| Race 15 - Other 1.5m | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Brets Delight | 10 | £100 | |
| 2 | Harry Penlan | 10 | £30 | |
| 3 | Blackfield Willy | 10 | £15 | |
| 4 | Maple Star | Gate | £0 | |
| DQ | Master T J | 50 | £0 | |
| DQ | Hilltop Blackbird | 50 | £0 | |
| Time: 3.387 | ||||