Rain gives horses a testing time but doesn’t stop play
Sunday was a blustery day at the Synod Inn track in Ceredigion. There were one or two short showers, but generally the afternoon’s racing was not affected, although the softened track required a staying horse. The good open track allowed plenty of options for horses and drivers.
The first Nursery race was won by Ithon Nipper (Lewis, Welshpool), a youngster gradually gaining experience after a few weeks at the races. In second was Afan Alert (Jenkins, Nebo), with Hobgoblin (Williams, Llanafan) in third. Garth Vader (Williams, Brecon) is one of the more experienced nursery horses and again this week claimed a win from Ithon Overdrive (Lewis, Welshpool), with Brywins Awesome (Hardwick, Brecon) in third.
In the first Novice heat, just-qualified Meadowland Olympic (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn), driven this week by Mark White, ran a good race to beat The Wow Factor (Lewis, Welshpool), while Nia Patrol (Miles, Merthyr) was third. Immortal Breeze (Williams, Llanafan) continued her winning ways in the second Novice heat with Janet Thomas at the controls, while Chinatown Samuel (Moorhouse, Llandinam) came in third on only his second appearance.
The first of the Grade B heats was won by George Gentle with owner Zak Lewis from Welshpool in the seat. In second place was Ayr Ontario (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey), while Hyar Temptation (Thomas, Tregroes) was third. Habberley Haste (Lloyd, New Radnor), partnered by his trainer Andrew Hardwick, won the second Grade B heat, with the lightly raced The Bold Jack (James, Dorstone) in second and Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) coming in third.
In the Baby Novice, the strangely named Ook Whos Coming, with owner Mark Evans from Brecon on board, claimed the honours from Turn the Paige (Miles, Merthyr), with newly promoted Hilltop Recon (Lloyd, New Radnor) in third.
Two juniors lined up in the next race with Rachel Bevan-Thomas from Maesmynis, Builth, on the gate with new drive Wellfield Wally. Despite all the experience of Ellie Tromans, she had to settle for second place with Sable Sam (Moorhouse, Llandinam). The consolation, where winner takes all, provided a compensatory run for Evenwood Thumps Up (Lewis, Llanbister) with Mel Langford driving. In second was Makemeamillionayr (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey), with Blackfield Buddy (Barton, Clunderwen) in third.
The Novice final proved a very good race as Chinatown Samuel, owned by long-time supporters the Moorhouse family from Llandinam and partnered by Mel Langford, quietly whittled away the lead of the front-running The Wow Factor (Lewis, Welshpool) to claim victory, while last week’s winner Immortal Breeze (Williams, Llanafan) was third.
In the Grade B, Habberley Haste (Lloyd, New Radnor), with Andrew Hardwick on board, had a lovely drive to win from his full brother, two years younger George Gentle (Lewis, Welshpool), while Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) was third.
The final race of the day was the Grade A and it proved a superb display of classic racing as the three back horses took full advantage of the open track and swept up the home straight together. In first was local horse Lakeside Pan for the ecstatic Elder family from New Quay, with Wayne Elder doing the steering. In second was track winner from a fortnight ago Ithon Inmate (Price, Brecon), while last week’s winner Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) was third.
Next weekend we return to the Evenjobb track in Powys when Old Radnor committee play host on June 17 starting at 1.30pm.