The scenic track at Bredwardine welcomed a healthy crowd to their meeting last Saturday; the first to officially fall within the Wales area. With well supported races, a range of artisan food stalls and a beer garden in the catering area the crowd enjoyed plenty of excellent facilities as well as a day of bright sunny weather.
The day kicked off with pony racing to whet the appetite of the crowd and get them into the habit of picking a favourite with the bookmakers. Victories went the way of Purdey Caygill and Tarka, Myla Coppins and Maesteg Ruth and final race the twelve furlongs open to the ever-consistent White Water with Lowan Cruise Mills.
Racing proper got underway at two PM with the first race being the Restricted Race. A small field declared on the day and the talented Ben Bromley emerged the victor on the Phil Rowley trained Outlaw Dream (IRE) for father Anthony. It was the eleventh winner this season for Ben, who despite his young age has already scored a total of twenty-three victories between the flags and seven in Hunter Chases. Outlaw Dream was described by his trainer as a lovely straight forward horse, easy to train with a good jump. With the departure of Port Jack (IRE) the remaining placing went to My Friend Freddie (GB).
The Conditions (Level 2) race saw a healthy field of ten runners go to post and the pace was set from flag fall by Bobby Thomas and Coquin Mans (FR). Having made all to be caught on the line at Llwyn Ddu Bobby could not believe the cards fate was dealing him when, on the run in to the post, he was overhauled once again. Cashmoll (IRE) and Zac Baker had been creeping quietly behind the leader and pounced shortly after the last. Dr Des (IRE) followed them home by two and a quarter lengths. The winner, a well-built mare by Ask (IRE) had been purchased by her owners about four years ago and was instantly highly thought of. The mare was in poor condition when purchased so was given plenty of time to recover only to find the pandemic curtailing her racing career; a lover of quick ground the mare has been lightly raced as a result but is reaping the rewards of her ability now.
The Mens Open went to Charlie Dando and the Brooke Garner-Woollen trained Calett Mad (FR). Described as having been wrong all year and having dodgy wind the ten-year-old Axxos (GER) gelding had been loose schooled in an attempt to sharpen up his jumping. His jockey, having had his orders from the trainer who is also his partner has ridden twenty-eight winners between the flags and thirteen in Hunter Chases, but this Autumn will start a new route in his equine career as Master huntsman of the Ludlow Hounds. Gottagottagetaway (IRE) and Green Winter (IRE) filled the minor places. The race was marred by the tragic demise of the gallant old Valtor (FR) who suffered a life ending injury approaching the fifteenth fence. The tragedy cast a pall over the day for those who were aware, and thoughts go out to the Bromley family and Phil Rowley as he was very much a star of the stable.
The next two races the Ladies Open and The Jockey Club Maiden for Mares and Fillies were a benefit for the Luke Price yard. Natalie Parker made the journey from Ditcheat where she works for Paul Nicholls to take the ride on the raw-boned Jack Dillinger (IRE). The Westerner gelding had been a winner over a shorter trip in Ireland over both fences and hurdles so followers of horses historical form would not have been surprised to see the drop in class pay benefits for him and his owners. It was the jockeys fifth winner of the season. The odds-on favourite Myth Buster (IRE) for the Bradstock family was denied victory by a neck with long-time leader Desert Roe (IRE) and Harriet Tudor back in third.
The Maiden race went the way of Villanesque (IRE) who at odds on favourite helped owner trainer Luke secure his position at the top of the National Leading Owner position and jockey James King an even tighter grasp on the Mens Championship. Villanesque (IRE) is still only a six-year-old and a bright future appears to be on the horizon for the attractive daughter of Dylan Thomas (IRE).
The Open Maiden saw one of the largest fields all season in the Wales go to post. Run in memory of the much-missed Bill Bryan thirteen horses lined up and the pace was set for most of the race by Boss Baby (IRE) who was having her last race and has now gone to a new home to take on an easier life. She was overhauled at the fourteenth by the eventual winner Gamalou dAlene (FR) and Zac Baker who went on to score by three and a half lengths from Barley Hill (IRE) and the favourite Blackfyre (IRE) back in third. The winner was described as a Willy Twiston Davies cast off by his owner trainer and co- trainer Charlie Willes. The smart grey needs quick ground and was described as a very easy horse to ride who would take about an hour to hack around the village left to his own devices. Smart eyed racegoers would have noticed the gelding wore one cheekpiece. This was not to cure any tendency to hang or a tacking up error by the groom it was to protect a small sarcoid on his cheek which gets rubbed by the bridle.
The meeting closed with a Point-to-Point flat race which was won by the small but extremely attractive Fusee de Poche (IRE) and James King. Bury Walls (GB and Suvla Bay (GB) filled the minor places. It was the first visit to a racecourse for the daughter of Champs Elysée.
As the day came to an end the crowd were in no rush to leave having enjoyed plenty of good racing and witnessed doubles for both James King and Zac Baker.
