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Glorious sunshine for the trotting

Jump Straight to Results

Watching the trotting races at Evenjobb on Saturday in glorious sunshine, families gathered around the track shouting home their favourite horses, owners and trainers dashing back and fro hoping for victory, horses parading with cool looking drivers, this is a scene which goes back for generations and still maintains a popularity in Mid Wales like nowhere else in the country. Perhaps it is the quality of the horses, the animation of the drivers, or the support of the crowd. Certainly the racing this weekend was second to none on this testing grass track with its uphill finish.

The first Nursery race, which is an introduction to proper racing, was won by Boomshakalakka, (Lloyd, Kington), second was Radnor Chips (Lewis Presteigne) with Sable Sam (Tromans Newcastle Emlyn) in third, these three horses were all impressive, suggesting all is well for the future. In the second race Blackmountain Jess (Morris Llanigon) dominated proceedings while Overland (Thomas, Llanybydder) ran a good race in second with Vintage Lobell from Huntington driven by Novice driver David (pops) Parker in third.

The Novice heats were the first races for the punters. In the first the home-bred grey Scooby’s Dream claimed a victory for Robert Lloyd and his daughter Samantha from Kington, who are returning to racing after one or two quiet years on the sidelines, and look to have a horse well able to follow in the hoof-prints of previous stars such as Zeus and Dream Lady. In second was Clare’s Own (Evans Newcastle Emlyn) while Alpine Heights (Ladek Cleobury Mortimer) was third, and in fourth and qualifying for the final was Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch). Another grey Brywins Snowflake (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) won the second Novice heat with an inspired run from Wellfield Inspired (Griffiths, Pontardawe) to put him in second while the talented winner from last week Abernant (Greenway, Michaelchurch Eskley & Hardwick, Brecon was third.

The two Grade B heats were ‘full houses’ with the maximum allowed nine runners in each so picking winners was no easy task. However it is often wise to stick with a ‘proven horse’ and this season the homebred East of Eden and the Pritchard family from Rhosgoch have often been first passed the post and they kindly obliged again with Ithon Eagle (Neville Guilsfield) in second and C U Boykin (Hitchcock, Haverfordwest) in third. In the second heat it was the flamboyant trotter Belleheir with owner Brent Ladek from Cleobury Mortimer on board who led them home with Bon Beti (Evans Jones, Rhymney) in second and Family Circle (Barton Clunderwen) in third.

The Grade A is the premiere grade in racing and this week Forgeside Jack (Walker, Gwernogle) went one better than last, to claim victory in the first heat, while the determined Believe (Pritchard Rhosgoch) was second with Vodka Express (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) in third. In the second heat Merrington Man (Thomas Rhymney) repeated his last week’s effort winning from Wellfield Xpense (Langford, Ludlow) with Wilbro Douglas (Lloyd Evans, Tregaron) in third.

There were three Baby Novice races with the first won by the well named Razzle Dazzle (Thomas Llanybydder), who took advantage of The Crusader’s mistake, who was second, while first time out this season, Glan Levit (Evans Talgarreg) was third. Trickster’s Dream (Flint, Porthcawl) gave a ‘dream of a drive’ to Mark White beating newly promoted Brywin’s Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) with the front running Quicksilver II (Hughes, Cwmbach) in third. Ithon Gypsy (Jones, Llanbister) ran a beautiful race in the third part of the Baby Novice to win convincingly from last week’s winner Greenhill Megan (Morgan Rhymney) with Fold Eventful (Perks Presteigne) in third.

There were seven runners going to post in the saddle race, this race has gained in popularity in the last year or so. With seven lady riders to choose, was it selection by horse or by rider, as in the days of Lester Piggott it is never wise to discount the professional, as Jayne Bevan from Llanddewi proved as she steered Master Tom (Owens, Shobdon) over the winning line in front of Chinatown Maori (Jones Llanllwni) in the hands of race-girl Rebecca Hitchcock with Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen) and Mel Langford in third.

The Junior race is always popular as everyone enjoys watching the enthusiasm of the next generation of ‘trotting folk’. Dale Williams from Brecon is now an ‘old hand’ and drove Sunnyside Geoff (Clark, Brecon) very competitively and although Elin Bevan on ‘grandad’s Blackwell Jerry (Bevan Llanddewi) did all she could she had to settle for second while Lewis Parr on only his second drive was close up in third on Glan Master (Price, Guilsfield).

The afternoon was completed with the three finals. In the first it was the beautiful grey Brywins Snowflake a youngster which the Weigel family have nurtured to maturity producing the fastest time of the day winning the Novice final, in second was another horse showing maturity since last season, Wellfield Inspired (Griffiths, Pontardawe) while never to be discounted Saunders Playboy (Pritchard, Rhosgoch) was third. In the Grade B final little East of Eden known at home as ‘pudding’ showed she is always in the reckoning despite a ten yard handicap, giving Derek Pritchard from Rhosgoch another winner, while C U Boykin (Hitchcock, Haverfordwest) was second and delightful Family Circle (Barton Clunderwen) with Louisa Myers at the controls was third.

The Grade A final was the icing on the cake for the Weigel family from Llanddewi Velfrey. They travel from the depths of Pembrokeshire week in and week out. This week, Vodka Express added the Grade A final to the stable’s Novice success so they must have been singing all the way home! In second was Forgeside Jack (Walker, Gwernogle) a horse which must be getting nearer to his first big win of the season, while in third was the dependable Believe (Pritchard Rhosgoch).

Detailed Results

Race 1 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Boomshakalakka Gate £0
2 Radnor Chips Gate £0
3 Sable Sam Gate £0
4 Betty Blue Gate £0
5 Ithon Ghost Gate £0
6 Merefield Jack Gate £0
Time: 2.248

Race 2 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Blackmountain Jess Gate £0
2 Overland Gate £0
3 Vintage Lobell 20 £0
4 Fairyhouse Gate £0
5 Nia Patrol Gate £0
Time: 2.245

Race 3 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Razzle Dazzle Gate £60
2 The Crusader 20 £20
3 Glan Levit 10 £10
4 Radnor Halleluliah Gate £0
5 Annie Blue Gate £0
6 Golden Nugget 10 £0
Time: 2.220

Race 4 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Tricksters Dream Gate £60
2 Brywins Jo Jo Gate £20
3 Quick Silver II Gate £10
4 Dragon Fly Gate £0
5 Lowri Dillon 20 £0
Time: 2.235

Race 5 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Gypsy Gate £60
2 Greenhill Megan 10 £20
3 Fold Eventful Gate £10
4 Murray Gate £0
5 Ithon Hannah Gate £0
Time: 2.202

Race 6 - Novice H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Scoobys Dream 10 £30
2 Clares Own Gate £0
3 Alpine Heights Gate £0
4 Saunders Playboy Gate £0
5 Sunnyside Geoff 10 £0
6 Forgeside Mo 10 £0
7 The Sizzler Gate £0
Time: 2.163

Race 7 - Novice H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Brywins Snowflake Gate £30
2 Wellfield Inspired 10 £0
3 Abernant 10 £0
4 The Red Devil 10 £0
5 Katie Blue 20 £0
6 Duggans Domino 20 £0
Time: 2.174

Race 8 - Novice Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Brywins Snowflake Gate £200
2 Wellfield Inspired 10 £50
3 Saunders Playboy Gate £30
4 Abernant 10 £0
5 Scoobys Dream 10 £0
6 Alpine Heights Gate £0
7 Clares Own Gate £0
Time: 2.158

Race 9 - Grade B H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 East of Eden 10 £30
2 Ithon Eagle 10 £0
3 C U Boykin Gate £0
4 Chinatown Maori 10 £0
5 Blackfield Willy Gate £0
6 Master Tom 20 £0
7 Maple Star 10 £0
8 Ladyford Chap 20 £0
9 Top Cat Gate £0
Time: 2.182

Race 10 - Grade B H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Belle Heir Gate £30
2 Bon Beti 20 £0
3 Family Circle 10 £0
4 Serenity 10 £0
5 Glan Master Gate £0
6 North West Art Gate £0
7 Shannons Pride 20 £0
8 Vyrnwy Chef 10 £0
9 Scoot Sixty Six Gate £0
Time: 2.171

Race 11 - Grade B Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 East of Eden 10 £300
2 C U Boykin Gate £60
3 Family Circle 10 £30
4 Ithon Eagle 10 £0
5 Belle Heir Gate £0
6 Bon Beti 20 £0
7 Serenity 10 £0
Time: 2.186

Race 12 - Grade A H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Forgeside Jack Gate £40
2 Bellieve 20 £0
3 Vodka Express Gate £0
4 Ithon Ace 30 £0
5 Meadowbranch Mike 10 £0
6 Obi Wan Kenobi 10 £0
Time: 2.189

Race 13 - Grade A H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Merrington Man 10 £40
2 Wellfield Xpense 20 £0
3 Wilbro Douglas Gate £0
4 Lucky Nipper Gate £0
5 Blackwell Jerry 30 £0
Time: 2.175

Race 14 - Grade A Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Vodka Express Gate £400
2 Forgeside Jack Gate £80
3 Bellieve 20 £40
4 Merrington Man 10 £0
5 Wellfield Xpense 20 £0
6 Wilbro Douglas Gate £0
7 Lucky Nipper Gate £0
Time: 2.186

Race 15 - Saddle
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Master Tom 30 £80
2 Chinatown Maori 20 £40
3 Blackfield Willy 10 £15
4 Vyrnwy Chef 20 £0
5 Scarlet Lady Gate £0
6 Boomerang II 60 £0
7 Vintage Lobell Gate £0
Time: 2.190

Race 16 - Junior
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Sunnyside Geoff Gate £20
2 Blackwell Jerry 80 £10
3 Glan Master 20 £5
Time: 2.236