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Racing Results

Jump Straight to Results

nighton races has always been the start of the grass season for Mid Wales and this year they decided to run their meeting a week later than usual. This was a very successful ploy with the gate up, the sun shining down, the track in good condition, all contributing to an afternoon of exciting racing.

The first nursery saw the popular John Peters from Shropshire claim a well deserved victory with homebred Betty Blue returning to racing after an operation that put her on the sidelines last year. In second was new recruit Boomshakalaka (Lloyd Kington) while another first time runner Radnor Chips (Lewis Presteigne) was third. In the second race Ithon Hannah (Bufton Dolau) trained and driven by Andrew Bevan from Maesmynis was first with Merefield Jack (Broome Ludlow) on his season’s debut second and Blackmountain Jess (Morris Llanigon) improving each week was third.

The Novice heats were the first of the punter’s races with Fold be Nimble (Perks Presteigne) taking top spot from the impressive Abernant (Greenway & Hardwick Brecon) with the showy grey Alpine Heights (Ladek, Cleobury Mortimer) in third. In the second heat it was a new horse to Mid Wales, Scooby’s Dream (Lloyd, Kington) who led over the winning line from Fold American (Perks Presteigne) while Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch) was third.

Serenity (Jones Llanllwni) took the first heat of the Grade B with Debbie Hitchcock at the controls, while the evergreen Scoot 66 (Bevan Llanddewi) was second and Coalford Time (Harries Merthyr) was third. Ithon Eagle (Neville, Guilsfield) on his graduation to the Grade B took the second heat driven as usual by trainer Stephen Williams from Shrewsbury, last week’s winner East of Eden (Pritchard Rhosgoch) was second with C U Boykin (Hitchcock Haverfordwest) in third.

The younger Peters brother Alan from Welshpool, with the ‘special’ Boomerang took the first heat of the Grade A while ‘Chalky’ the grey Live the Dream (Langford Ammanford) was second with the quality Obi-wan-kenobi (Williams Llanafan) in third. The little chestnut mare Believe (Pritchard Rhosgoch) won the second Grade A heat off thirty yards with Merrington Man (Thomas Rhymney) in second and Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) in third.

Mark White from Porthcawl steered Ithon Cracker to victory in the first Baby Novice race so earning qualification to the Novices. Radnor Halleluliah (Bevan Builth) was second while the grey Quicksilver II (Hughes, Cwmbach) was third. Wellfield Inspired (Griffiths Pontardawe) was another who earned promotion to the Novices, with a win in the second Baby Novice, ably piloted by Melanie Langford. In second was Trickster’s Dream belonging to the racing Flint family from Porthcawl while Clare’s Own (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn) was third.

The Novice final was next on the card, with the dead cert proving to be so, as Fold be Nimble (Perks Presteigne) won, driven by last year’s champion driver Wayne Knox from Abergavenny. In second was runner up driver Derek Pritchard from Rhosgoch on his own Saunders Playboy with Abernant belonging to the Greenway, Michaelchurch Eskley and Hardwick, Brecon partnership in third.

Mid Wales is one of the very few places in Britain where saddle racing flourishes, but with six entries its popularity looks set to continue mostly with lady riders. Last year’s champion rider Emma Layton continued in winning form with the Barton family from Clunderwen’s Vyrnwy Chef, in second was Scarlet Lady on her first outing under saddle urged on by trainer Lisa Bevan from Maesmynis while another new saddle horse Sam the Man (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) ridden by Rebecca Hitchcock was third. The Junior race followed where the children who often do so much of the work at home are given their chance under the limelight. Young Ellie Bevan on Blackfield Jerry (Bevan Llanddewi) had sixty yards to make up, but this experienced horse made it look easy with his light burden as he swept past the two Novice horses. Dale Williams on Sunnyside Geoff (Clark Brecon) came second and Ryan Walters on Red Adair (Harries Merthyr) took third.

The Grade B was another competitive affair with Ithon Eagle in his first week in open racing claiming a rewarding victory for caravan park owner Doug Neville from Guilsfield, this horse was certainly a good buy during the winter months. Last week’s winner East of Eden or ‘Pud’ to her friends, belonging to the Pritchard family from Rhosgoch was second with the striking trotter Belleheir in third.

The Grade A final is the ‘cream’ of the meeting and the first one of the season on grass is always very special. Boomerang who has enjoyed some wonderful triumphs in the past which took him to the back of the handicap has now after a rather disappointing season last year returned to the gate. On Saturday he ran with his old verve and determination to give a joyous victory to owner, trainer, driver Alan Peters from Welshpool. In second one place higher than his previous runs was Live the Dream (Langford Ammanford) while Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) was third.

The consolation race is always popular, the race where previous mistakes may be rectified and so it was as Seren Penlan (Robin Lloyd Painscastle) who refused to settle in her own race showed she has the ability as she was first past the post while Glan Master (Price Guilsfield) was second and Master Tom (Owens Shobdon) third.

Detailed Results

Race 1 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Betty Blue Gate £0
2 Boomshakalakka Gate £0
3 Radnor Chips Gate £0
4 Nia Patrol Gate £0
5 Ithon Ghost Gate £0
Time: 2.341

Race 2 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Hannah Gate £0
2 Merefield Jack Gate £0
3 Blackmountain Jess Gate £0
4 Charlie Penlan Gate £0
5 Royal Fella Gate £0
Time: 2.278

Race 3 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Cracker 20 £60
2 Radnor Halleluliah Gate £30
3 Quick Silver II Gate £15
4 The Crusader 20 £0
5 Annie Blue Gate £0
6 Greenhill Megan Gate £0
7 Golden Nugget 10 £0
Time: 2.199

Race 4 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Wellfield Inspired 20 £60
2 Tricksters Dream Gate £30
3 Clares Own 20 £15
4 Murray Gate £0
5 Fold Eventful Gate £0
6 Luck Matters Gate £0
7 Seren Penlan 20 £0
Time: 2.214

Race 5 - Novice H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Fold Be Nimble Gate £20
2 Abernant Gate £10
3 Alpine Heights Gate £0
4 Forgeside Mo 10 £0
5 Katie Blue 20 £0
6 Sam the Man 10 £0
7 Ithon Artist 10 £0
Time: 2.134

Race 6 - Novice H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Scoobys Dream 10 £20
2 Fold American Gate £10
3 Saunders Playboy Gate £0
4 The Red Devil 10 £0
5 Sunnyside Geoff 10 £0
6 Red Adair 10 £0
7 Hasty Flight 20 £0
8 Vintage Lobell Gate £0
Time: 2.211

Race 7 - Novice Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Fold Be Nimble Gate £100
2 Saunders Playboy Gate £40
3 Abernant Gate £20
4 Fold American Gate £0
5 Alpine Heights Gate £0
6 Scoobys Dream 10 £0
7 Forgeside Mo 10 £0
Time: 2.140

Race 8 - Grade B H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Serenity Gate £30
2 Scoot Sixty Six Gate £10
3 Coalford Time Gate £0
4 Bon Beti 20 £0
5 Glan Master Gate £0
6 Top Cat Gate £0
7 Vyrnwy Chef 10 £0
8 Ladyford Chap 20 £0
Time: 2.164

Race 9 - Grade B H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Eagle Gate £30
2 East of Eden Gate £10
3 C U Boykin Gate £0
4 Belle Heir Gate £0
5 Maple Star 10 £0
6 Shannons Pride 20 £0
7 Master Tom 20 £0
Time: 2.160

Race 10 - Grade B Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Eagle Gate £200
2 East of Eden Gate £50
3 Belle Heir Gate £30
4 C U Boykin Gate £0
5 Serenity Gate £0
6 Coalford Time Gate £0
7 Scoot Sixty Six Gate £0
Time: 2.157

Race 11 - Grade A H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Boomerang II Gate £30
2 Live the Dream Gate £10
3 Obi Wan Kenobi 10 £0
4 Bon Bethan 10 £0
5 Wilbro Douglas Gate £0
6 Blackwell Jerry 30 £0
Time: 2.163

Race 12 - Grade A H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Bellieve 30 £30
2 Merrington Man 10 £10
3 Meadowbranch Mike 10 £0
4 Forgeside Jack Gate £0
5 Ithon Ace 30 £0
6 Vodka Express Gate £0
Time: 2.163

Race 13 - Grade A Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Boomerang II Gate £250
2 Live the Dream Gate £60
3 Meadowbranch Mike 10 £30
4 Bon Bethan 10 £0
5 Bellieve 30 £0
6 Merrington Man 10 £0
7 Obi Wan Kenobi 10 £0
Time: 2.118

Race 14 - Saddle
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Vyrnwy Chef 20 £75
2 Scarlet Lady Gate £30
3 Sam the Man Gate £15
4 Ladyford Chap 30 £0
5 Vintage Lobell Gate £0
6 Vodka Express 30 £0
Time: 2.197

Race 15 - Junior
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Blackwell Jerry 60 £20
2 Sunnyside Geoff Gate £10
3 Red Adair Gate £5
Time: 2.171

Race 16 - Consolation
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Seren Penlan Gate £20
2 Glan Master 50 £10
3 Master Tom 70 £5
4 Top Cat 50 £0
Time: 2.218