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Grass Harness Racing Season Kicks Off

Jump Straight to Results

On one of the most glorious summer’s day with a gentle breeze blowing along the valley on Monaughty Poeth near Knighton the traditional grass trotting season opened. The track was mown and conditions were perfect, which reflected in a wonderful afternoon of racing, with plenty of horses to provide plenty of competition.

The two Nurseries this week provided wins for ‘old hand’ Andrew Bevan from Maesmynis and his youngster Ithon King, and newcomer Zac Lewis from Welshpool with Blackfield Billie.

This week for the first time the Novices were divided into heats. Sable Sam who has changed stables over the winter period and now belongs to Julie Moorhouse from Llanidloes continued his partnership with driver Mathew Tromans to secure a win from Tommy the Dealer (Bevan Llanddewi) and Greenhill Ani (Williams Brecon). In the second heat Jango Fett, the new horse belonging to the Hitchcock family from Haverfordwest was very impressive coming home ahead of Beacons Sorcerer (Bevan Llanddewi) and Greenhill Emily (Morgan Rhymney).

The Grade B was also divided into heats for the first time this season, with the first heat going to Holmes Dreamer in the hands of his owner Shane Eggerton from Norton Canon while Kickstart (Williams Brecon) was second and Ithon Ghost (Wilson Llanfihangel ar arth) was third. Dernol Duke a local favourite owned by Edward Wozencraft from Llangurig and driven by trainer Andrew Bevan from Builth Wells, despite a mistake early in the race, secured first place in front of Too Hot Today (Jones Merthyr) and Greenhill Cliff (Williams Brecon).

It was a new horse Cloud Burst owned by Shane Eggerton from Norton Canon which burst onto the scene in fine form by winning in the fastest time, the first heat of the Grade A Rhyds Desire (Thomas Rhymney) trying to overcome a handicap of thirty yards was second while Chaps Commander perhaps one of the most consistent horses at the moment was third. The second heat saw the welcome return of the 2013 wonder horse Ithon Inmate (Price Brecon) he lived up to his billing by winning ahead of The Red Devil (Greenway Michaelchurch Eskley) who ran a superb race to be second with the reliable Clares Own (Evans Newcastle Emlyn) in third.

Habberley Playboy (Johns Shrewsbury) was the winner of the first Baby Novice race with trainer Derek Pritchard in the seat, in second was The Fuffer Man (Evans Brecon) while Finnbarr Messenger (Meaney Brecon) took third spot. Tyssul Pearl and owner Robert Barton from Clunderwen were first passed the post in the second Baby Novice race, ahead of Hendre Princess (Jones Llanllwni) and Top Secret (Pugh Clifford). In the third race Arctic Prince (Gwatkin Evenjobb) and driven by Jacob Webb were the winners, with C U Choteau (Thomas Llanbister) producing a good run to be second and Jake Lobell (White Porthcawl) was third.

The Novice final gave the Bevan family from Llanddewy a slight dilemma with two qualifiers, usual pilot Mark chose Tommy the Dealer and so Aled Davies from Llanybydder picked up a catch drive on Beacons Sorcerer. Aled drove confidently, taking on initial leader Jango Fett and secured a significant win, with Jango Fett (Hitchcock Haverfordwest) having to settle for second while Greenhill Emily (Morgan Rhymney) was third.

The saddle race saw three ladies lined up against one boy. Jacob Webb on the Grade A Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch) gradually made up his handicap to win, his second win of the day, beating Sunnyside Geoff (Williams Brecon) and Dragon Penlan (Barton Clunderwen) into the minor places.

The Grade B final gave Dernol Duke Wozencraft Llangurig) another chance to prove he really is a worthy open horse, having his first meeting in the open grade. He ran a classic race to power home for Maesmynis driver Andrew Bevan, in second and third were the stable companions Greenhill Cliff and Kickstart (Williams Brecon).

The first Junior race of the season saw a good battle between the three girls with young Anna Lewis on Dragon Penlan (Barton Clunderwen) coming home in front of the fast finishing Wellfield Ladygrey with Ellie Bevan on board while Big Harry and Josie Duggan were third.

The finale of the day was provided by the Grade A Final. Would Ithon Inmate repeat his heat win or would newcomer Cloud Burst prove to be too goo? As predicted it was a battle between these two horses and Ithon Inmate (Price Brecon) won convincingly from Cloud Burst (Eggerton, Norton Canon) while back marker Rhyds Desire (Thomas Rhymney) was third.

So at the end of a good afternoon of racing the season moves on to the first ‘Cardi’ meeting of the year, as the classic Synod Inn meeting takes place on Bank Holiday Monday May 26th starting at 1.30 pm.

Detailed Results

Race 1 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon King Gate £0
2 B Gs Star Gate £0
3 Brywins Jasper 10 £0
4 Pilsbury Lady Gate £0
5 Blue Girl Gate £0
6 Kartia Mandua Gate £0
Time: 2.308

Race 2 - Nursery
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Blackfield Billie 10 £0
2 Hilltop Surprise Gate £0
3 Top Secret 10 £0
4 Cam Paige Gate £0
5 Knights Templar Gate £0
6 Tyssul Penny Lane Gate £0
Time: 2.282

Race 3 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Habberley Playboy Gate £60
2 The Fuffer Man 20 £30
3 Finnbarr Messenger 10 £15
4 Danny Blue Gate £0
4 Gold Ness 20 £0
6 Brywins Luckycharm 10 £0
7 Immortal Ellie Gate £0
Time: 2.241

Race 4 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Tyssul Pearl 10 £60
2 Hendre Princess 10 £30
3 Top Secret Gate £15
4 Ayrvitro 20 £0
5 Ithon Gift 20 £0
6 Highbrooks Eternal Gate £0
7 Big Harry 20 £0
8 Grecho Gate £0
Time: 2.282

Race 5 - Baby Novice
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Arctic Prince 10 £60
2 C U Choteau 20 £30
3 Jake Lobell Gate £15
4 Dolan Hasty Gate £0
5 Just Hold On 10 £0
6 Chinatown Lucky 20 £0
7 Fitch Gate £0
Time: 2.234

Race 6 - Novice H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Sable Sam 20 £20
2 Tommy The Dealer 10 £10
3 Greenhill Ani 10 £0
4 Merefield Jack 20 £0
PU Forsas Dream Gate £0
PU Llwyns Hall 20 £0
Time: 2.249

Race 7 - Novice H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Jango Fett 10 £20
2 Beacon Sorcerer 10 £10
3 Greenhill Emily 20 £0
4 Greenwood Romeo 10 £0
5 Miss Jackpot 20 £0
6 Durham Direct 10 £0
Time: 2.235

Race 8 - Novice Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Beacon Sorcerer 10 £100
2 Jango Fett 10 £40
3 Greenhill Emily 20 £20
4 Tommy The Dealer 10 £0
5 Greenhill Ani 10 £0
6 Sable Sam 20 £0
7 Greenwood Romeo 10 £0
8 Merefield Jack 20 £0
Time: 2.269

Race 9 - Grade B H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Holmes Dreamer 10 £30
2 Kickstart Gate £10
3 Ithon Ghost Gate £0
4 Bon Hasty Gate £0
5 Camden Lock 20 £0
6 Wellfield Inspired Gate £0
Time: 2.241

Race 10 - Grade B H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Dernol Duke Gate £30
2 Too Hot Today Gate £10
3 Greenhill Cliff 10 £0
4 Mahogany Magic Gate £0
5 Wellfieldlifestyle 20 £0
Time: 2.247

Race 11 - Grade B Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Dernol Duke Gate £200
2 Greenhill Cliff 10 £50
3 Kickstart Gate £30
4 Holmes Dreamer 10 £0
5 Bon Hasty Gate £0
6 Ithon Ghost Gate £0
7 Too Hot Today Gate £0
Time: 2.204

Race 12 - Grade A H1
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Cloud Burst Gate £30
2 Rhyds Desire 30 £10
3 Chaps Commander Gate £0
4 Merrington Man 10 £0
5 Saunders Playboy Gate £0
6 Meadowland Hasty 30 £0
7 Scoobys Dream 10 £0
8 Wellfield Ladygrey Gate £0
Time: 2.173

Race 13 - Grade A H2
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Inmate Gate £30
2 The Red Devil Gate £10
3 Clares Own Gate £0
4 Immpartial 20 £0
5 Bon Jasper 20 £0
6 My Immortal 10 £0
7 Strike A Light 40 £0
8 American Gigolo 10 £0
Time: 2.226

Race 14 - Grade A Final
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Ithon Inmate Gate £250
2 Cloud Burst Gate £60
3 Rhyds Desire 30 £30
4 Merrington Man 10 £0
5 Chaps Commander Gate £0
6 The Red Devil Gate £0
7 Immpartial 20 £0
8 Clares Own Gate £0
Time: 2.196

Race 15 - Saddle
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Saunders Playboy 30 £75
2 Sunnyside Geoff 10 £30
3 Dragon Penlan Gate £15
4 Miss Jackpot Gate £0
Time: 2.244

Race 16 - Junior
Position Horse Name Handicap Prize
1 Dragon Penlan 20 £20
2 Wellfield Ladygrey 70 £10
3 Big Harry Gate £5
Time: 2.338