Third time lucky as Anna swaps schoolwork for racing
PEMBROKESHIRE’S Anna Lewis, 17, came in for plenty of cheers when she entered the winners’ enclosure at the recent Llangeinor Pentyrch Point-To-Point Steeplechases at the Dunraven Stud, Pyle, near Bridgend, on her 10-year-old French-bred chestnut gelding Tiger Rag after winning the Ladies’ Open Race.
For Anna, who is studying for her A-levels, had just ridden the 6-1 outsider of three to a two-lengths victory over the previous year’s winner Watch The Birdie, partnered by leading rider Hannah Lewis (no relation).
Anna, who rides out for leading National Hunt trainer Peter Bowen, was having only her third ride in a point-to-point and said: “Amazing, that was just great.’’
Hannah’s parents Mark and Bridget, nee Barton, were both successful point-to-point riders themselves and were obviously delighted with their daughter’s first success – as was her grandfather Dewi Lewis, well-known in Welsh hunt-racing circles.
There were doubles for Connor Brace – his first – and Wales’ top rider Bradley Gibbs. Connor, 16, won the Members race on Robin Des People and the Restricted on Delkantra, and but for falling from Paint The Dream in the Open Maiden at the penultimate fence, would have made it a hat-trick. Robin Des People led approaching the second last fence and went on to score by eight lengths from Desert Row. Delkantra came home 15 lengths ahead of the favourite Court In Flight (Bradley Gibbs).
Connor brought his season’s tally of wins to 10 when 24 hours later at Brampton Bryan he won on William Money, who like Robin Des People and Delkantra is owned and trained by his grandfather David Brace OBE.
Gibbs’ two winners came courtesy of Sham From Milan, which beat Awesome destination in the Young Horse Maiden, and Welliemix, which came home two lengths ahead of My Little Bud in the Open Maiden.
The Conditions Race for novice riders went to the odds-on Sir Du Bearn, which gave Regan Pallas, 18, from Narberth, his first winner. Sir Du Bearn, who scored by five lengths from ItchmeI’m Scratch (Connor Brace) was chalking up his 12th win.
Winning owner/trainer Michael Bowen said: “He’s just awesome.”
■ Congratulations must go to Michael on winning the classic Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire with Lotus Pond, with Peter Bryan in the saddle. Michael’s father Peter Bowen was responsible for 1992 and 1993 winner Brunico.
Cowbridge’s Byron Moorcroft celebrated his 30th birthday with an easy win on Kevin Salter’s Spencer Moon in the Mens Open Race, finishing a distance ahead of Kinari.
Two pony races were held and in the first of them – the 138cm event – Daniel Lewis, 13, riding the odds-on Clear The Track, beat Jack Osborne on Stretcholt Hermes. Eleven-yearold Henry Pugh, riding Milly, was third.
The 148cm open race went to the odds-on Class Act Annie, partnered by 15-year-old Lily Llewellyn, which came home 20 lengths ahead of Perfect Place (Holly Flynn), with Just Cruzin (Molly Burton) a further 20 lengths away in third spot.
■ Elsewhere, at Kingston Blount, Craig Dowson won the Novice Riders’ Race on Templepirate, David Prichard took the Restricted at Flete Park on Steel Brush and Evan David scored on Chosen Rose in the Restricted at the West Norfolk fixture.
■ The Tredegar Farmers Hunt Point-To-Point Steeplechases will be held at Lower Machen on Sunday, May 13. Racing gets under way with the Restricted Race at 2pm.
■ Connor Brace, 16, riding Jonathan Tudor’s BillyGwyn Too, notched-up his first winner under Rules when landing the Goffs Spring Sales P2P Bumper Maiden Flat Race over two miles and one furlong at Exeter last Tuesday.
Brace, a former leading ponyracing rider from Bridgend, who is leading in the race for the champion point-to-point novice riders’ championship, rode a cracking race to beat favourite Koottenay River by three parts of a length.
■ You can email Brian Lee at brianlee4@virginmedia.com