AN OFFER TO PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

FOLLOWING last week’s Covid-19 update from the Welsh Government, no dates have been approved for the return of spectators to racecourses in Wales.

Discussions are continuing between all elite sports and the government to identify dates for trials with customers.

Ffos Las is working alongside Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, the Welsh Rugby Union, the rugby regions, Glamorgan Cricket Club and our colleagues at Chepstow and Bangor to agree the most appropriate way forward.

The next update from the Welsh Government is in a fortnight, but any decisions announced prior to this will be posted on our website and social media feeds.

Our next meeting at Ffos Las is on Thursday, April 1 with the meeting live on Sky Sports Racing.

There is a big week ahead for many Welsh jockeys and trainers at the Cheltenham Festival, with Sean Bowen and Evan Williams among those heading to the meeting with great chances.

Trainer Nicky Martin might not be a household name but her small stable often punches above its weight and they run last November’s Ffos Las winner Bear Ghylls in today’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Tomorrow, Pembrokeshire trainer Rebecca Curtis bids for back-to-back successes in the Stayers’ Hurdle with Lisnagar Oscar.

Christian Williams, who trains in Ogmore-by-sea, had the perfect tonic for the Cheltenham Festival when he sent out a 100-1 winner at Warwick on Sunday. The five-year-old Mansoline, making his racecourse debut, took the final race of the day under jockey Gavin Sheehan.

Williams was due to run the 2019 Coral Welsh Grand National winner Potters Corner in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon, but he pulled out after suffering a slight knock in training.

It was a good day for Welsh trainers at Warwick with Sheila Lewis also successful when Volcano won for the fourth time this season. Ben Jones was in the saddle. The horse’s next engagement could be the West Wales National at Ffos Las on April 1.

Brian Eckley, who trains just outside Brecon, was also on the scoresheet with his mare Liberty Bella who scored comfortably for jockey Robbie Dunne.

Trainer Colin Tizzard is going to hand his licence over to son Joe later this year. Colin has won many of the calendar’s big jump races, including the Coral Grand Welsh National twice and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.