Newbridge races on Wednesday evening has become one of the highlights in the local events calendar as was witnessed by the huge crowd enjoying a beautiful sunny evening with exciting racing, writies Maureen Lloyd.
The nursery race saw the winner Dreamcatcher (Langford Ammanford) and the second Betty Blue (Peters Upper Longwood) earn their ticket into competitive racing.
Three Novice heats illustrates the tough competition of this grade and in the first Greenhill Raque (Thomas Rhymney) secured maximum points with Wellfield Inpired (Griffiths Pontardawe) in second while Ithon Gypsy (Jones Llanbister) was third. Abernant, perhaps the leading Novice horse this season, took the second heat for the Greenway, Michaelchurch Eskley and Hardwick, Brecon partnership. In second was True Grit (Thomas Tregroes) who has lately found his form, with Katie Blue (Williams Shrewsbury) in third. In the third Novice heat the well fancied Clares Own (Evans Newcastle Emlyn) was first past the post with Brywins Snowflake (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) and Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch) in hot pursuit.
The first Grade B heat provided a good win for the impressive Fold be Nimble (Perks Presteigne) only in his second foray in the grade while the vintage Bon Beti (Evans-Jones Rhymney) was second and recently sold Chinatown Maori (Jones Merthyr) was third. Maple Star (Prosser Libanus) another horse soon changing owners took the second B heat under the guidance of Rebecca Williams with Master Tom (Owens Shobdon) second and Coalford Time (Harries Merthyr) in third.
Three lady drivers took the top awards of the first Grade A heat as Serenity (Jones Llanllwni) piloted as usual by Debbie Hitchcock was first past the post, while Classic Day (Miles Merthyr) and Rebecca Williams was second and the inevitable finalist Bon Bethan (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) with Louisa Myers was third. In the second heat the ladies were much in contention again but Horst Weigel from Llanddewi Velfrey and Vodka Express took top place while Janet Thomas drove Forgeside Jack (Walker Gwernogle) into second and Debbie Hitchcock piloted Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) into third.
Greenhill Megan (Thomas Rhymney) took the first Baby Novice ahead of Cross Current (Sisto Ammanford) and Luck Matters (Roach Llanybydder). The Crusader (Greenway Michaelchurch Eskley) at last earned his ticket into the Novice grade by winning the second Baby Novice race from the impressive Bon Hasty (Collingwood Huntington) and Overland (Thomas Llanybydder). Fold Eventful (Perks Presteigne) won the third part of the Baby Novice the well fancied Brywins Jo Jo (Jones Amanford) and Village Tom (Owens Shobdon).
In the saddle race Donna White from Porthcawl ensured the family’s Ithon Cracker graduated to the Grade B by winning from Ithon Artist (Wozencraft Llagurig) who is not often seen under saddle while in third place was Aberelan with owner Kate Lewis from Llandrindod Wells on board.
In the Junior race it looked as if front runner Fold American (Perks Presteigne) was going to give Ryan Walters a win but Dale Williams on Sunnyside Geoff (Clark Brecon) just got up while back marker Ellie Bevan on Scoot Sixty Six (Bevan Llanddewi) had to settle for third.
The dash gave Novice horse Scarlet Lady (Bevan Builth) a welcome win from Ithon Gypsy (Jones Llanbister) and Duggans Domino (Gwatkin Evenjobb).
The evening finished with the three finals. In the Novice Abernant (Greenway Michaelchurch & Hardwick Brecon) fulfilled all expectations to claim victory from the in form Greenhill Raque (Thomas Rhymney) with the impressive grey True Grit (Thomas Tregroes) in third. Fold be Nimble (Perks Presteigne) recorded the fastest time of the night to take the Grade B final partnered as ever by Wayne Knox from Bon Beti (Evans-Jones Rhymney) and Master Tom (Owens Shobdon). It was Vodka Express (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) who claimed the top accolade of the evening in a sensational race beating Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) and Classic Day (Miles Merthyr).
The next race meeting is tomorrow (Saturday, August 14) when Talsarn hold their annual races starting at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the 81st annual Penybont Races were a huge success last weekend, with a large and enthusiastic crowd and over 100 horses jostling to pick up the spoils at this most prestigious of venues.
Grey clouds threatened in the morning, but by the time the racing started the only remainder of rain was the heavy ground underfoot which favoured only the toughest of horses.
The rapidly improving Ithon Gem (Walker, Kelsall) notched up the first victory of the day for the Perks stable of Presteigne in the Nursery. Overland (Thomas, Llanybyddr) seems to appreciate the dangers of belonging to a butcher, and held off Aberelan to win the second and fastest division.
With only the first two horses in each heat qualifying for the final, the Novice heats were fast and furious. Faraway (Atherton, Narberth) led the first in style but Man Of The Day (Harries, Llanllwni) lurked on her shoulder all the way and got up just in time to win the race.
The second heat was a heart stopping battle to the wire, but Clare’s Own (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn) managed to stick her whisker in front of Saunders Playboy (Pritchard, Rhosgoch) in the nick of time.
Abernant (Greenway/Hardwick, Brecon) hit his impressive top gear to plough through the mud and fend off Brywins Snowflake (Weigel, Llandewi Velfrey) and Fold American (Perks, Presteigne) in the third heat, and in the final heat the Red Devil pipped long-time leader Greenhill Racque (Thomas, Rhymney) just in time to secure a glorious double for the Greenway family.
CU Boykin (Hitchcock, Haverfordwest) fought like a lion to get to the front of the first Grade B heat, and refused to give up his position despite a late attack from Family Circle (Barton, Clunderwen). In the second heat Fold Be Nimble (Perks, Presteigne) secured a handsome cup for the fastest time of the day, narrowly beating Scooby’s Dream (Lloyd, Kington) and Bon Betti (Jones, Rhymney).Ithon Eagle (Neville, Guilsfield) led the way in the first heat of the Grade A but he was no match for Bellieve (Pritchard, Rhosgoch) who stormed past him to win quite comfortably.
The second heat went to another crowd pleaser as the gutsy Live The Dream (Langford, Ammanford) made mincemeat of his 30 yard handicap to push Vodka Express (Weigel, Llandewi Velfrey) and Ithon Ace (Williams, Shrewsbury) into the minor placings.
Merrington Man (Thomas, Rhymney) may not be very big but he is as tough as old boots, and fended off attacks from Bon Bethan (Weigel, Llandewi Velfrey) and the old stager Shermanator Sam (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) in the final heat.
Matty Thomas ‘the racing chef’ had a resounding success in the Baby Novice division, winning with the fiery little Brywins Jojo for owner Keith Jones of Ammanford, and then following up with another victory with gentle giant Cross Current (Sisto, Ammanford). The muddy track seemed to suit Glan Minstrel (Lloyd, Cribyn) who flashed to the wire after a tough battle.
The fastest division went to the very speedy Boomshakalakka (Lloyd, Kington) driven by Sarah Price. In the Saddle race Ithon Cracker (White, Porthcawl) led in fine style flanked by Classic Day (Miles, Merthyr), but Melanie Langford craftily slipped through the inside on the last corner and cruised away to seize the honours riding Wellfield Inspired for Melvyn Griffiths (Pontardawe).
In the Dash Duggans Domino (Gwatkin, Evenjobb) earned his ticket to the Grade B by forcing Coalford Time (Harries, Merthyr) and Scoot 66 (Bevan, Llanddewi) into the minor placings.
The real excitement began with the finals, with the best horses on the track scrapping to earn the thrill of a big victory at Penybont. Saunders Playboy ran the race of his life in the Novice final, stuck on the wide outside all the way but still battling heroically at the finish to fend off the classy Abernant (Greenway/Hardwick, Brecon) in second and the equally formidable Clares Own (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn) in third.
Scooby’s Dream (Lloyd, Kington) hurtled into the lead of the Grade B final, flanked by a thick pack of tough campaigners all hungry for victory. He floated over the mud and despite strong attacks from Fold Be Nimble (Perks, Presteigne), Chinatown Maori (Jones, Merthyr) and Bon Betti (Jones, Rhymney), he managed to keep his nose in front.
The highlight of the day was the £1.000 Grade A Final, and what a race it was! As the front horses jostled for the lead, Bellieve put her head down and motored around the outside to pick up the lead at the bell with Merrington Man hot on her heels.
The incredible little chestnut firework slowly drew away from the others to win by several lengths, much to the joy of her owners and trainers Derek and Ruth Pritchard. In the Mile and a half, Mark Bevan proved he was none the worse for a spill earlier in the day as he notched up another win for the tough little Master Tom (Owens, Shobdon), beating Ithon Gypsy (Jones, Llanbister) and Top Cat (Duggan, Llangunllo).