Chinatown Kolt makes it a fourth win in five years
The first Wednesday of August is the iconic Penybont races and, despite the dubious weather forecast, the faithful were rewarded with a wonderful afternoon of sunshine and some exciting racing.
A win at Penybont is something which all owners, trainers and drivers strive for, and they tell their stories of both success or bad luck for years.
Even a Nursery win is one to applaud, and Ithon Nipper with owner Matt Lewis from Welshpool began the afternoon in the best way possible, winning from Beacon Sorcerer (Bevan Llanddewi) and Beg for Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn). In the second nursery, Lynn Boxhall navigated Dernol Yankee (Wozencraft Llangurig) in front of Bets All Off (Sargeant, Newbridge) and Dannys Gift (Perks Presteigne).
The first Novice heat produced another impressive win for Greenhill Lillian (Thomas, Rhymney) with usual driver Mark Evans on board. In second was Hurricane Howard (Duggan, Howey) with lately-promoted Cool Ice (Gething, Ewyas Harold) third. In the second Novice heat, Fantasizing (Havard, Dinmore) gave driver Martin Roberts a superb drive to claim victory from Howdoyoulikemenow (Perks Presteigne) while Ook Whose Coming (Evans, Brecon) was third.
Hyar Temptation’s first B heat saw owner Janet Thomas from Tregroes pilot her to victory in front of Habberley Haste (Lloyd, New Radnor) while Makemeamillionayr (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) was third. Jonny James from Dorstone, in the second Grade B heat, added to the season’s wins ahead of Chinatown Samuel (Moorhouse, Llandinam) and Meadowland Maverick (Jones, Evenjobb) in third.
Lakeside Pan (Elder New Quay) with son Wayne Elder at the controls, won in the first Grade A heat with the grey Ayr Hero (Bevan Llanddewi) in second with Scoobys Dream (Williams, Brecon) third. In the second Grade A heat, Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) from the Hitchcock stable in Haverfordwest continued their reputation for Penybont success. This year the driver was Andrew Hardwick from Brecon, in second was Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney) with Best of the Fleet (Lewis, Welshpool) third.
Rhyds Panalulalah (Gething, Ewyas Harold) with Derek Pritchard in the seat claimed the first Baby Novice race from Garth Vader (Williams/ Pugh, Brecon) with Turn the Paige (Miles, Merthyr) in third. Stephen Lloyd from Painscastle took the drive on his brother’s Ayr Fella (Lloyd/ Samuel, Painscastle) in the second Baby Novice to claim a victory which promotes him into Novice racing, in second was Hilltop Recon (Lloyd, New Radnor) while Jets Girl (Langford, Onibury) was third.
Five ladies lined up for the saddle trot, where Fold the Notes (Perks, Presteigne), ridden by his usual pilot Rebecca Williams, came home ahead of No Mercy (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) with Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) in third.
Rebecca Williams jumped on the sulky behind Ithon Hannah (Perks, Presteigne) in the Dash to claim a back-to-back double from Ayr Ontario (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) in second and Danny Blue (Peters, Upper Longwood) in third.
In the Novice Final, Greenhill Lillian (Thomas, Rhymney) who continued in winning ways with Mark Evans acting as navigator, Fantasizing (Havard, Dinmore) second with Cool Ice (Gething, Ewyas Harold) third.
Hyar Temptation with her owner, farmer’s wife Janet Thomas from Tregroes in the sulky, repeated history when they won the Grade B final, second was The Bold Jack (James, Dorstone) with Chinatown Samuel (Moorhouse, Llandinam) third.
The Grade A was another historymaking race as Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) secured another victory giving the Hitchcock/Jones stable four victories within five years. This year Andrew Hardwick, from Brecon, piloted, in second was Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney) while Best of the Fleet (Lewis, Welshpool) was third.
The final race of the day was the mile-and-a-half. The Chancer’s lorry had broken down on the way, so he arrived too late to go in the Novice race. His owner Wayne Knox, from Pandy, drove him, claiming victory over Wellfield Wally (Bevan, Builth) and Dernol Duke (Morgan, Knighton) in third.
This week’s racing is at Talsarn on Saturday, starting at 1.30pm.