Racing 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 | ||||