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STRONG WELD: winner of the Confined
photo: Alun Sedgmore

Joseph Williams, 17, of St Mellons near Cardiff, chalked up his first winner in just five rides when winning a match for the Members race at the rearranged Curre & Llangibby fixture at Howick, near Chepstow.

He partnered his mother's 12-year-old Galtee View to come home a fence ahead off Countrycousin. Both Joseph's parents, Joan and Martin, are former Point-to-Point Riders and Joseph, who plays cricket at county level, is also a keen Rugby player.

In another match for the Confined, 13-year-old Strong Weld ridden by chartered surveyor Rhys Jenkins, a cousin of Welsh Rugby legend Gethin Jenkins, soon drew clear of 11-year-old Withington to win by a distance. Withington was ridden by Paul Sheard, whose claim to fame is that he won the Welsh Point-to-Point Grand National - the only race he has ever won - at the Pentyrch some years ago.

Roger 'Richard' Willcox admitted to having a nice bet on his Inissam Storm who took the Restricted by 20 lengths from Scania Classic. The favourite Handofharperstown, ridden by Rachel Reynolds, was reported to have choked when his tongue tie slipped and Fealing Real was still in with a chance when he fell at the second last.

Inissam Storm, well ridden by Josh Harris, is lucky to be alive as he nearly died of colic last year and this son of Dr Massini was saved by Haverfordwest vet Graham Fouk, who Mr Willcox couldn't praise enough.

Check Up, a nine-year-old bay gelding bought out of a Chepstow selling flat race in 2007, was a six-length winner of the Mens Open under 24-year-old William Oakes, who was notching-up his first winner of the season. Owned by Rachel Leyshon and trained by her father, Bridgend car dealer Andrew Leyshon, Check Up was prominent throughout and the runner-up Sheikman, who like the winner is qualified with the Llangeinor,was a further three lengths ahead of the odds-on favourite and early leader Tarsus.

There were four runners for the Ladies Open race which resulted in a match between Grey Kid and the odds-on Upton Springs, partnered by her Trainer Sarah-Jayne Davies. The former, ridden by Jodie Hughes, had finished a four lengths second to Chesnut Annie in last year's race and looked to be always going the better, drawing clear three from home to win by 15 lengths.

Owned by Mrs Ingrid Shervington and trained by Wyn Morris, this popular grey 12-year-old gelding, a winner of seven Point-to-Points and a Hunter Chase, loves to go into sea at Broadhaven Sands and if he had his way
"he would go up to his neck in it'' reports trainer Wyn Morris, who was gaining some consolation for Tarsus's defeat.

Of the 52 Entries for the Open Maiden race just eight went to post which silenced those who claimed before racing that the event should have been run in two divisions. In the closest finish of the day the odds-on Plunge, ridden by
Welsh champion Rhys Hughes and who had finished runner-up to On Oath at the Brecon & Talybont, held on by half-a-length to beat the fast finishing Rash Oak and Dai Jones. Trained by Mr Price's daughter Katy, Plunge will be aimed at the Dunraven Bowl which is held at Chepstow Racecourse next month.

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