An enthusiastic Bank Holiday crowd gathered at Llwyn Ddu on Monday to watch the next chapter of racing in the Wales area as the Banwen Club ran their meeting. Horses and jockeys travelled from far and wide to attend the meeting with a few well-known names being represented...
The day was grey and cloudy, but the rain held off and the weather conditions made it better for the horses who travelled at speed on this sharp flat track.
The day started with the Ladies Conditions Race which saw four of the six entries go to post. A fast and furious contest ensued with nineteen-year-old Heidi Palin emerging the victor on the Nick Pearce trained Azzuri (GB) the odds-on favourite. Nick had travelled from the Croome and West Warwickshire country with his charge a journey that took around three hours and was taken on the promise that John Mathias would “buy him a pint” if he ran the horse. Nick works as a head lad at the stud owned by trainer Dan Skelton, who handled the horse previously. It was Heidi’s third winner on her sixth ride, a strike rate that many more experienced jockeys would be envious of. Mahler Style (IRE) was twenty-five lengths adrift in second with a similar gap back to Desert Roe (IRE) in third.
Jodie Hughes was one of the most popular Welsh jockeys in her riding days and she sent out Morehurrylesshaste (IRE) under partner Scott Malson to take the Restricted. Thirty-one-year-old Scott works rides out for Peter Bowen and Wyn Morris and this is his third win. Morehurrylesshaste benefited form the fast pace set by the long-time leader Fubar (IRE) and James King and after a neck and neck battle emerged the victor by half a length on the line. Frankie Faulkner (IRE) completed the placings.
Lord Lipsey had been successful on his previous journey into his Wales with his nine-year-old Financial Outcome (IRE). Having made his way down from the Golden Valley country once more on Monday he saw a mighty challenge being laid down by Bobby Thomas and Coquin Mans (FR) who coming to the last looked all over the winner. However, the Bradley Gibbs drive came into play and determined not to have made the long drive from Hertfordshire worth while he managed to get Financial Outcome to overhaul Coquin Mans and claim victory by a length. Josh Barber and Emtidaad (IRE) were back in third with Ardview Boy (IRE) completing the minor placings. Lord Lipsey claims the horse had improved since his last run and had made one mistake on a course that was a little sharp for him.
The Maiden Conditions race went the way of the odds-on favourite Hold Your Fort (IRE) for the Luke Price stable and James King. The El Salvador (IRE) gelding held Rockafela (GB) and Bradley Gibbs by a length with Boss Baby and Harriet Tudor (IRE) back in third.
Sharp eyed racegoers will have spotted the name “McCain” in the programme and matched it up with the Cheshire qualification. Today it was the turn of nineteen-year-old Toby Mc Cain-Mitchell so have his share of the limelight on the big gelding Slievegar (GB). It was his third win and the journey had taken around four hours to arrive in Llwyn Ddu. Toby, the nephew of trainer Donald trains the horse himself having owned him for around two years. Bradley Gibbs had to settle for another second on Hitroadjack (IRE) and was three quarters of a length down on the winner with the odds-on favourite Rose Iland (IRE) and James King back in third.
The curtain fell on the meeting with another victory for Oliver Brissenden this time with Port Jack (IRE) and owner jockey Carys Morris. This was the second victory for the Brecon based jockey and she purchased the horse back in January of this year for herself. Trainer Oliver claims the horse is very easy go train and Carys herself does all the work with him. Being small and very light Carys carries over two stone in lead to ride and struggles to carry her own saddle to weigh in. Despite the lead the gelding who looked extremely well in the paddock beforehand saw off the well fancied Aracaras (IRE) and James King with the favourite Vendant (IRE) back in third for James King who would probably say his afternoon had been frustrating having been sent off favourite for most of his rides.