Tai’rgwaith Racing
Last Saturday 5th April, on a cold day at the all-weather track at Tai’rgwaith, near Ammanford Wales & Border Counties hosted their second meeting of the 2008 season. There was tremendous racing with some close finishes proving that several stables have been able to get their horses fit even so early in the year.
The young horses start in the nursery race and what better surface can they have on which to learn their trade, than this level track in Carmarthenshire. Merry Messenger made his season’s debut driven by the experienced ex National Hunt jockey Wayne Knox. This horse has lots of potential but does have a tendency to fly out of the gate with little thought of the stamina needed to complete the race. However he notched up a good victory for the Wellings family from Ludlow, with farmer’s wife Janet Thomas from Tregroes and her youngster True Grit not far behind followed by C U Boykin (Hitchcock, Haverfordwest).
Lyons Frank went one better than last time by taking the Novice race for builder Robert Langford from Pontardawe, Ayr Force One (Evans Newcastle Emlyn) again followed him in while Lucky Nipper (Thomas Llandeilo) got his name on the board for the first time this season.
There were two heats of the grade B with Llangadog winner Bon Bethan (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) taking another victory with Bristol based Louisa Myers doing the steering. In second was new recruit I’ll Always Be The Man (Powell, Merthyr Cynog) followed in by Vyrnwy Chef (Hitchcock, Haverfordwest). In the second heat Melanie Langford brought her favourite Wellfield Xpense over the line first, while Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen) could only manage second and Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) was third.
This week Purple Rain took full advantage of the absence of Llangadog winner Believe to score a deserved win for ‘super supporter’ Terry Edwards from Bromfield, the grey Live the Dream (Langford Pontardawe) was second while Master Chance (Elder Blaencelyn) ran third.
Brywins Badlands repeated their win from last time to graduate from the Baby Novice into the Novices. His owner Richard Williams from Carmarthen has returned to racing after an absence of several years and is enjoying great success with his new acquisition. East of Eden the homebred filly belonging to the Pritchard family from Rhosgoch was second with little Saunders Bliss (Weigel Llanddewi Velfry) in third.
The final of the Grade B ended a lovely afternoon of racing, Wellfield Xpense repeated his heat win for last year’s champion driver Melanie Langford of Ludlow with the other heat winner Bon Bethan (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) claiming second prize while the gallant Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen) again followed on to be third.
The next meeting will be the final preparatory meeting for the season on the Tai’r gwaith track on Sunday April 20th at 2 pm, when there is sure to be many more horses ready to start on their 2008 campaign.
Detailed Results
| Race 1 - Nursery | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Merry Messenger | Gate | £0 | |
| 2 | True Grit II | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | C U Boykin | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Wellfield Inspired | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.291 | ||||
| Race 2 - Baby Novice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Brywins Badlands | 20 | £50 | |
| 2 | East of Eden | Gate | £20 | |
| 3 | Saunders Bliss | Gate | £10 | |
| 4 | Nons Choice | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Sam the Man | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Mannart Gabriel | 10 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.131 | ||||
| Race 3 - Novice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Lyons Frank | Gate | £70 | |
| 2 | Ayr Force One | Gate | £30 | |
| 3 | Lucky Nipper | 10 | £10 | |
| 4 | Cactus Jack | Gate | £0 | |
| 99 | Family Circle | 20 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.113 | ||||
| Race 4 - Grade B Heat 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Bon Bethan | 10 | £20 | |
| 2 | Illalwaysbetheman | 20 | £0 | |
| 3 | Vyrnwy Chef | Gate | £0 | |
| 4 | Ceiron Shon | 10 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.071 | ||||
| Race 5 - Grade B Heat 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Wellfield Xpense | 10 | £20 | |
| 2 | Blackfield Willy | Gate | £0 | |
| 3 | Meadowbranch Mike | 10 | £0 | |
| 4 | Vodka Express | 20 | £0 | |
| Time: 2.108 | ||||
| Race 6 - Grade B Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Wellfield Xpense | 10 | £150 | |
| 2 | Bon Bethan | 10 | £40 | |
| 3 | Blackfield Willy | Gate | £20 | |
| 4 | Illalwaysbetheman | 20 | £0 | |
| 99 | Vyrnwy Chef | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.074 | ||||
| Race 7 - Grade A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Horse Name | Handicap | Prize | |
| 1 | Purple Rain | 30 | £180 | |
| 2 | Live the Dream | 30 | £40 | |
| 3 | Master Chance | Gate | £20 | |
| 4 | Highbrooks Cobra | Gate | £0 | |
| Time: 2.082 | ||||