Impressive bay gelding does the business at Chepstow
In one of the best Dunraven Bowl Novices Hunters Steeplechases ever since the event was first staged at Chepstow Racecourse in 1996, Jeffrey Bird’s nine-year-old bay gelding Repeat Business, runner-up to My Coranna in last year’s race, ran on strongly from the last fence to beat Dewi Lewis’ Tinkers Hill Tommy, which had looked liked causing a big upset, by five lengths, with Spencer Moon a further one and a half lengths away in third place.
Winning rider Richard Patrick said: “When my horse pinged the last couple of fences, I thought I must be in with a chance.”
Hereford-born Richard was brought up in Pembrokeshire and learnt a lot when riding out for Haverfordwest trainer Peter Bowen.
It was a case of third time lucky for Cowbridge’s Mr Bird and his brother-in-law trainer Jonathan Tudor, as their Minsgills Man had been second in the race on another occasion.
Mr Bird said: “That was the 30th winner for me and Jonathan, made up of two wins under rules and 28 wins between the flags.”
Mr Tudor, a former point-to-point rider of note himself, said: “I am really delighted and my thanks to all concerned, and a big thank you to David Brace for sponsoring this race which means so much to the pointto-point fraternity in Wales.”
All going well, Repeat Business could go to the Stratford Final Hunters’ Chase meeting on June 9. How they finished: 1. Repeat Business (Richard Patrick)
2. Tinkers Hill Tommy (Peter Bryan)
3. Spencer Moon (Byron Moorcroft) 4. Manhattan Mead (Ben Jones) 5. Moreece (Will Biddick) 6. Doctor Braveheart (Bryony Frost) 7. Captain Camelot (Tom David) 8. Pink Eyed Pedro (Evan David) Moral Hazard, War Path, Watch The Birdie and Romeo Is Bleeding did not finish.
Meanwhile, at the Tivyside, Mickey Bowen celebrated his birthday by saddling a four-timer with Deadly Move, African Air, Flying Eagle and Sir Du Bearn.
Jodie Hughes was successful on African Air and Mickey’s other winners were all partnered by his younger brother James, who is having a cracking first season.
Ben Jones came away with a double on Glenteenasaigh and Robin Des People, and the hunt members race was won by Dai Rees’ Qalinas partnered by Wayne Maskill.
Congratulations to the Gwent connections of 33-1 Wolverhampton winner Three Colours Red, owned by Colleen Ford Ellis and trained by Robert Stephens.
Morgan Winstone, the winning rider, was chalking up his first winner under Rules.
Meanwhile, the Tredegar Farmers Hunt Point-To-Point takes place at Lower Machen on Sunday, May 7 and it would be nice if the hunt could recognise in some way their former Master of Foxhounds Howard Jones, who died earlier this year.
At the time of writing, three Welsh riders head the list of winning riders for the national Fullers Gentlemen Novice Riders’ Championship.
They are Lorcan Williams, who has ridden 15 winners, James Bowen, who has ridden 14, and Ben Jones, who is on the eight-winner mark.
Bowen also leads Jones in the race for the Dodson & Horrell Wilkinson Sword Edge Trophy. All three riders are from the west Wales area.