FFOS LAS TAKES CENTRE STAGE

FFOS LAS will take centre stage when the National Hunt season kicks into top gear next week.

The Carmarthenshire track will be in the spotlight on Sunday, October 9, bringing to a close three days of top-class action in Wales.

Chepstow gets it all under way as it stages a two-day meeting on October 7-8.

Almost £500,000 in prize money is up for grabs across the three days.

The Chepstow meeting traditionally triggers the start of the jumps campaign.

The richest race over the two days is the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by the Wasdell Group and worth £75,000.

There is also the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, named after the horse who won the Champion Hurdle three times from 1968-70.

The fixture, which this year boasts total prize money of £385,000, is regularly targeted by the country’s leading jumps stables.

The meeting at Ffos Las, meanwhile, is the Gwendraeth Valley track’s most valuable of the year.

It is headlined by the Welsh Champion Hurdle, which this year has a new sponsor in DragonBet and has a prize fund of £50,000.

The race has a rich history. It was staged at Chepstow until 2002, with its winners including the likes of hurdling greats Bula, Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse.

Since its resurrection in 2010, the roll of honour features Oscar Whisky, The New One and Silver Streak, who have all been successful at the top level.

Last year’s winner, Glory and Fortune, went on to finish fifth in the Champion Hurdle itself at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Phil Bell, executive director at Chepstow and Ffos Las, said: “It’s been widely accepted for many years that the winter jump racing season starts with the two-day Unibet Jump Season Opener fixture at Chepstow in October.

“The sport’s most successful trainers always target the meeting with some of their better horses.

“This year we have decided to enhance the fixture by adding a third day at Ffos Las with a race programme including the DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle.

“DragonBet are new sponsors for the race and we are delighted with their support.

“We hope racing fans from across the UK will come to Wales for top-class jump racing for either one, two or three days.”

A TOTAL of £1,300 was paid out as Carmarthen Mixed Darts Summer League sponsored by Towy Works staged its presentation evening. Winners Boars Trotters picked up £390, with second-placed Coracle collecting £290. There were also prizes for third-placed Wheatsheaf (£200), Quins in fourth (£150) and fifth-placed Gremlin Club (£150). The 5s round robin was dominated by the Coracle, who didn’t drop a leg all night. Second place went to Boars Trotters, who won a play-off against the Quins. Wheatsheaf claimed fourth place after a play-off against Gremlin. High offs: Richard Jupp 120 and 100; Alan Davies 108; Rob Love 105 and 100; Paul Jones 100. Ladies’ high scores: Sarah Davies 140 and 115; Shirley Davies 140; Delyth Morris 140; Pat Carter 126; Sue M Phillips 116.