Glorious sunshine for the trotting
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 | ||||