Grass Harness Racing Season Kicks Off
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 | ||||