Festival glory for Lorcan in thrilling finish

THE team at Ffos Las were delighted to see jockey Lorcan Williams add another bigrace success to his CV when he was one of a handful of British jockeys to ride winners at the Cheltenham Festival last week.

The Pembrokeshire-born jockey and his willing partner Porlock Bay, trained by Will Biddick, took the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase.

The winning margin over the Willie Mullins-trained Billaway was a diminishing short head in a thrilling finish.

Lorcan’s previous biggest victory was aboard Truckers Lodge in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last year. His career is definitely heading in the right direction and being part of the Paul Nicholls team can only aid his cause.

Cheltenham wasn’t kind to other representatives from Wales with the Rebecca Curtis-trained Lisnagar Oscar falling in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Silver Streak, the 2018 Welsh Champion Hurdle winner, finished sixth behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle. Sceau Royal, winner of last year’s Potter Group Welsh Champion Hurdle, was in contention in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before meeting interference on the home bend.

It was good to see Peter Bowen on the scoresheet at Chepstow on Sunday when Landofsmiles won for his long-standing owners Jayne and Gwyn Brace. James Bowen was in the saddle.

It was Peter’s 14th winner of the season, way below his best season in 2006-07 when he registered 72 victories. Peter told the Racing Post that he is now focusing on buying foals rather than the more expensive horses in training. The first crop of foals is now coming through as four-year-olds.

Another Welsh rider, Ben Jones, made the long journey to Carlisle on Sunday for just one ride. The trip home would have gone a bit quicker after Galloping Bear defeated Senor Lombardy.

We are waiting for the next update from the Welsh Government this Friday to see if there’s any progress in the return of spectators. We are hoping to have some crowd trials in May or June, with owners perhaps attending a little sooner.

Finally, the Kaiser Chiefs concert planned for May has been moved to our Ladies’ Day fixture on Friday, August 27. Tickets are on sale and are refundable or transferable should this date not go ahead.

Please see the Ffos Las website for more information.