Perfect conditions for an afternoon’s racing at top track
After the cancellation of Newbridge races, Mid Wales & Border Counties Harness racing ran a fixture at the superb Allensmore track on Saturday. The conditions were perfect and a wonderful afternoon’s racing was enjoyed by the enthusiastic public.
Two Nursery races started the afternoon, with Bets All Off (Sergent, Howey) securing a win in the first, this qualifying him into “proper” racing, while Krakatoa (Knox, Pandy) gave valuable experience to his new driver by winning the second Nursery.
The first races for the punters were the Novice heats. In the first, former steeplechase jockey Wayne Knox, from Pandy, with his impressive horse The Chancer, ran on to win from the well-respected Ook Whos Coming (Evans, Brecon), while the impressive Cool Ice (Gething, Ewyas Harold) was third.
The stablemate Rhyds Panalulah (Gething, Ewyas Harold) has run exceptionally well during the past few weeks and again took top honours in the second Novice heat, with his trainer Derek Pritchard at the controls.
In second place was the consistent Lanehouse Patch (Thomas, Merthyr), while Danny Blue (Peters, Longwood) ran well in third.
The Grade B was a straight race this week, with Made in Wales, who has recently changed hands and is now in the Hawkes of Llanddewi stable, taking the race under the guidance of Mathew Tromans. In second with another impressive run was Chinatown Samuel (Moorhouse, Llandinam), while Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) was third.
In the first Grade A heat, the diminutive Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney), driven as usual by Mark Evans, was first past the post ahead of the grey Ayr Hero (Bevan Llanddewi), while another grey, Krakatoa (Knox, Pandy), was third.
Habberley Playboy (Gittins/Johns, Shrewsbury) ran a great race in the second A heat to win, from the people’s favourite grey Scoobys Dream (Williams, Brecon), while the improving Meadowland Hasty (Price, Brecon) was third.
Beg for Mercy is a lovely little mare who is quietly enhancing her reputation, winning her first Baby Novice. As usual, she was driven by owner Mathew Tromans from Newcastle Emlyn.
In second was another well-fancied horse, Garth Vader (Williams, Brecon), while newly promoted Bets All Off (Sergent, Howey) was third.
In the second Baby Novice, it was CU Maggie (Bevan, Llanddewi), another mare enjoying her first win, with Mel Langford in the seat, who came home in front of Hilltop Recon (Lloyd, New Radnor), while the improving Afanbells-princess (Jones, Cribyn) came third.
In the Novice final, it was the winner of the first heat, The Chancer (Knox, Pandy), who romped home ahead of the fast-finishing Rhyds Panalulah (Gething, Ewyas Harold), while Lanehouse Patch (Thomas, Merthyr) notched up another third.
Five horses lined up for the Junior race, which included the return from injury of Izzy John from Llangunllo, who partnered Nia Patrol, kindly loaned by the Miles family from Merthyr.
The winner was the hard-pulling Wellfield Wally, with Rachel BevanThomas on board, just coming home in front of the young Jets Girl (Langford, Onibury) and Ceri Bevan, while in third was Jess Samuel from Newchurch driving the family’s Camden Lock.
The Grade A final completed the afternoon’s racing, in which little Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney), driven by Mark Evans, stormed up the home straight to claim the win from the ever-popular 12-year-old Scoobys Dream (Williams, Brecon), while Habberley Playboy (Gittins & Johns, Shrewsbury) had to settle for third.
Next week’s racing is on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, when the Llandrindod committee stage their fixture at the Penybont track, starting at 1.30pm.