REVIEW |
Anyone
who got a soaking at Laleston last year will have read the weather reports
on Saturday morning and gone armed with a wet suit. Not so Chris Pennycate,
who having scrounged a lift forgot to remove his coat from his own car,
and found his way into the Men’s changing tent (his usual refuge) barred
by a stern looking official! Mecca
Prince won the member’s race after the well-fancied Danger Baby called
it quits under William Oakes. Welsh Warrior continued his excellent role
as a schoolmaster and secured second place for his young rider. The
Confined race contained two of the more dodgy characters (equine that is!)
in Wales, in Harppy and Oo Eee Be. The much improved Sherbet Fizz was sent
off favourite, with Val’s Well also gaining much support. The wet
conditions were making the going slippery as the day wore on and
“Fizzy” took a firm dislike to them, and already appeared to be
struggling with half a circuit to go. The rumour that this was because I
saddled the horse and not Dick Jones is not only untrue it is NOT FAIR! Prior
to this Oo Eee Be had caused another burst of excitement when he dodged
out on the first circuit with Lucy Rowsell and then continued to cart her
around the field aided and abetted by the loose Ballymaloe Boy. The chase
ended in both horses taking the hedge onto the road, an event that Lucy
only avoided by baling off. An inspection of the hedge later disclosed a
stake and wire at that point; so it is a mercy that Lucy did jump off and
not end up impaled had her and the horse fallen. Back in the race Val’s
Well was quickly scoring a double for James Tudor pursued home by the
still recalcitrant Harppy, who delighted his owners and rewarded them for
their perseverance. John Keen had already sold his trailer, having
virtually given up on the horse and had to borrow his neighbours to bring
the horse, which was also for sale, to the races. The
Ladies Open saw a return to winning ways for the lovely Rajati, who fairly
took off after the final bend to give Lucy Rowsell a much deserved winner.
It’s only fair to say that Lucy has more “bottle” than the shelves
in her husband's pub and she does not always get the success she deserves. Moon
Tiger made the short journey from Dil Thomas’s yard (across the road) to
romp away with the Men’s Open under a very confident Dai Jones. David
Brace’s former star Gunner Boon, who towered over everything in the
paddock, looked unimpressive back in second and never troubled the winner
in any way. Christian
Williams had brought James Jenkins up from Paul Nicholl’s yard for the
day and may have questioned his own wisdom when he found himself battling
to the line in the restricted with James on a horse trained by his own
father! Chris won the battle with Lisa Day’s Glen Mist, holding Carling
Elect in second place. Neither
had much luck in the youngster’s maiden with James biting the dust at
the last and Chris taking a detour through the wing. The race went to the
pacesetting Carl’s Boy who was dismounted by John Llewellyn after the
finish but seemed fine by the time he got back to the horsebox.
The
older horses maiden contained some very inexperienced sorts and the field
was quickly decimated, leaving Sohapara to come home unchallenged under
Dai Jones. A word of sympathy needs to be said here for Lucy Rowsell had
been placed on the horse in its two previous runs only to have the ride
“poached” by her own brother-in -law! All it seems is fair, in love, war and point to pointing... |