WALES AND WEST HARNESS RACING ASSOCIATION

(HELD UNDER BRITISH HARNESS RACING CLUB RULES)

   

 

NITE’N’GALE ON SONG AT ALLENSMORE.

There was a gladiatorial air about the third Wales & West harness racing meeting under BHRC rules. The second of the Biotal series of Free For Alls had again attracted the best horses in the region, all determined to prove supremacy.

Rebelwood (Mark Pritchard) led the cavalry charge over the mile and a quarter, and grimly held the advantage until the final bend. Here Nite'n'Gale (Julian Price) hit overdrive and battled into the lead, stalked by arch-rival, Fearless JR. Turning for home, Richard Owens cocked the trigger on Fearless JR and the two magnificent pacers were locked in combat to the wire. There were long minutes of suspense as the judges deliberated, and then a thunderclap of acclaim as Nite'n'Gale was awarded the glory by a heartbeat.

It was definitely a day when the ‘fairer sex’ dominated. Elaine Thomas’ homebred filly, Scoots Mischief sizzled clear to take the first division of the maiden, while Clare Gunn celebrated her birthday with a flying victory behind Destiny’s Girl in the second division.

Julie Bevan galvanised her own Northern Sky to make all to take the open mile, while Sarah Mould kept the ladies in the limelight, sprinting to a convincing success with Les Saunders’ novice Leckwith Destiny. It looked as if a double was on the cards for Sarah when I Am Still The Man threw down a spirited challenge in the top grade mile event, but his dramatic slip on the bend allowed Joanne Taff to power clear with Blackmail.

Tregaron pharmacist, Huw Evans made the frame with all of his runners, but Jimmy Short went all the way to the winner’s circle in the novice race.

Terry Laventure is having a quiet start to the season by his high-altitude standards, but showed that he intended to make a fight for the driver’s title with an all-the-way triumph with the improver, High Heel Star.

Next meeting; Wednesday (26^th) at Leominster 5 pm and Walton, Sunday June 6^th, 2 p.m.

RESULTS. GOING: Firm

DON’T FORGET THE EVENING MEETING MAIDEN DIV 1

1 Scoots Mischief (David Bevan); 2 Wellfield Carl (Pete Collins); 3 Ithon Annie (Roy Wilson).

2:13.7. 1/2L, 21/2L.  Owned by Elaine Thomas, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.

DITTO DIV 2

1 Destiny's Girl (Clare Gunn); 2 Caenwood Mystic (Julian Price); 3 Newtown Alyisha (Debbie Wakefield).

2:14.0. 1/2L, head.  Owned & trained by John Gunn, Redditch.

THEY DON’T GET BETTER THAN  BRIAN REYNOLDS! NOVICE

1 Jimmy Short (Huw Evans); 2 Gypsy Girl (Dowie Lloyd-Davies); 3 Master of the Hall (Terry Laventure)

2:13.4. 31/2L, 11/2L. Owned & trained by Huw Evans, Tregaron.

GORGEOUS GORDON LYONS NOVICE/IMPROVER

1 Leckwith Destiny (Sarah Mould); 2 Symlog Derryn Du (Jason Podmore) 10 yds; 3 Home Ambrose (Huw Evans)

2:11.8. 1L, head. Owned by Les Saunders, trained by Lyn Mould, Penkridge.

ROLAND & KARINA’S IMPROVER/ INTERMEDIATE

1 High Heel Star (Terry Laventure); 2 Southwood (Mark Pritchard); 3 Symlog Strawberry (Patrick Morris)

2:11.7. 11/4L, 2L. Owned & trained by Arthur Parsons, Cardiff.

CASTLE CARVERY (RHAYADER) OPEN HANDICAP MILE

1 Northern Sky (Julie Bevan); 2 Ynyston Chips (Debbie Wakefield); 3 Goldwood (Mark Pritchard).

2:10.0. Neck, 3/4L. Owned by Julie Bevan, trained by Geraint Phillips, Brecon.

BUY FROM BRIGHTWELLS OPEN HANDICAP MILE (Handicap reduced by 20 yds)

1 Blackmail (Joanne Taff); 2 I Am The Man (Sarah Mould); 3 Cassini Venture (Mark Pritchard)

2:7.1. 31/2L, 21/2L. Owned by Cynthia Appleby, trained by Joanne Taff, Cannock.

BIOTAL EQUINE GOLD FREE FOR ALL (11/4 MILES)

1 Nite'n'Gale (Julian Price); 2 Fearless JR (Richard Owens) 3 Rebelwood (Mark Pritchard).

2:37.0. Short hd. 2L. Owned & trained by Julie Price, Presteigne.