Success for Evan on and off the track

Simon Rowlands

THE Welsh Horse Racing Awards at Chepstow on Friday evening were remarkable for the number of people honoured who were also successful on the racecourse on Saturday.

Evan Williams (Jump Trainer of the Year, who has in his stables the Hurdler of the Year Silver Streak and Chaser of the Year Secret Reprieve) combined with daughter Isabel to take a Grade 3 three-mile hurdle at Haydock with Dans Le Vent.

Isabel rode a confident waiting race on a horse having his first try at that distance. Evan said: “I thought going up to three miles was stupid, but I’m a dinosaur and it’s a good job the kids are there to point me in the right direction.”

Later on the Haydock card Strictlyadancer completed a hat-trick of wins for Christian Williams, whose Kitty’s Light took the Rising Star Award. Jack Tudor was in the plate.

At Ascot, Before Midnight won his second big pot in a month for Sam Thomas. He followed up his Cheltenham success in October under a tenacious ride from Sam Twiston-Davies. He’s jointly-owned by Dai Walters (Contribution to Welsh Racing award) and James and Jean Potter (National Hunt owners of the year). Before Midnight has now won his owners £75,000 in prize money from his last two victories.

David Evans (leading Flat trainer, and trainer of Rohaan, the Flat horse of the Year), united with his old ally Adam Kirby to score at Lingfield with Delta River.

Though David Probert was an obvious choice for the Flat Jockey of the Year, Welsh apprentice Mollie Phillips gained a Special Recognition Award for her growing tally of winners on the level. She added to that total with Rose Hip at Lingfield, forcing the mare ahead in the final stride to notch up her 25th winner of the year.

Evan and Isabel Williams kept the ball rolling on Sunday when Balkardy proved more determined than his idling rival in a close finish in an Exeter handicap hurdle.

Rebecca Curtis had an across-the-card double on Sunday within the space of 10 minutes.

Her Beatthebullet ground out a victory in a three-runner chase at Exeter under Sean Bowen (Jump Jockey award winner). And Geordie Des Champs won at Uttoxeter with Adam Wedge in the saddle.

Our final meeting of 2021 at Ffos Las is Christmas Jumper Race Day on Thursday, December 16. The first of seven races is off at 12.10pm.