Usual service resumes with Evan on mark
RACING resumed at Ffos Las last Thursday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic stopped the sport in March.
And it was business as usual for the track’s leading trainer Evan Williams, who bagged a double with Memphis Bell and Arcade Attraction.
He has now saddled 108 winners at the course since it opened in 2009.
Memphis Bell, completing back-toback victories after a win at Fontwell in September, was ridden by the trainer’s daughter Isabel, who is becoming established as a very good jockey with a bright future. Stable jockey Adam Wedge was aboard Arcade Attraction.
Welsh rugby internationals Gareth Davies and Rob Evans took time off from duties at the Scarlets to see their horse Robin of Sherwood win the three-mile handicap chase for trainer Dai Rees and jockey Sean Bowen. This former point-to-pointer should continue to give his high-profile owners plenty of fun in the coming months.
Ogmore-by-sea trainer Christian Williams saw Uno Mas return to form in emphatic fashion when winning the 2m 4f handicap hurdle by 19 lengths. The six-year-old won six races inside six months from November 2018 to April 2019 but had been out of form since. Jack Tudor was the successful jockey. Another Welsh rider in the winner’s enclosure was Robert Williams. He took the novices’ handicap hurdle over 2m aboard Cogital for trainer Bernard Llewellyn. The gelding won on the flat for his new stable at Bath in September.
There is another fixture at Ffos Las this Thursday with seven races live on Sky Sports Racing from 12.45pm.
This weekend the first big jumps meeting of the winter in the UK takes place at Chepstow. The Unibet Jump Season Opener is on Friday and Saturday.
Friday’s highlight is the Grade 2 £30,000 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, and 11-times champion trainer Paul Nicholls plans to run his exciting prospect Mcfabulous. The race is live on ITV Racing.
The meeting continues on Saturday when the feature race is the £40,000 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle. Top-class jump racing continues in Wales on Sunday, October 18, with the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las.