Report: Lower Machen (1st November 2026).

“They are as good as you get” was the high praise reaped on Bradley Gibbs and Claire Sheriff by owner David Brace after his home bred Broadway Dreamer romped home an impressive winner of the NWFAA maiden race. The chestnut son of Nathaniel passed the line eighteen lengths clear of The Quant with Ginderella back in third. Claire Sheriff now trains from the former Dunraven Stud at Pyle, Bridgend, and it gives David and Dawn Brace immense pleasure to have the hustle and bustle of a training yard once more on their doorstep. Having placed several horses with Claire David is often to be found at the yard before the couple have arrived to start the day and as his wife ruefully admits “I had intentions of moving somewhere smaller, I have no chance now.”

This was the second leg of a double for the Sheriff/Gibbs partnership as Avichi in The Park,owned by Claire’s father Julian, carried his well-known pink and black colours to an emphatic victory in the opener the Restricted race. Given a masterful ride by Bradley Gibbs the gelding was help up in rear, giving his backers cause of concern as he was still there approaching five from home. Once the handbrake was off however he carved his way through the field to run out a six lengths winner from Sharing is Caring and Sing Like Madonna. Brad explained that the gelding can be too keen and when running at the front can wear himself out with his own enthusiasm, so they decided to settle him at the rear. The plan worked due in no small part to the perfect timing of the jockey.

The wonderfully named Go Down Rockin scored in a close finish from Monty Leburne in the Tattersalls Cheltenham GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse maiden. The good-looking son of Walk in the Park was sent off favourite by the bookmakers as he arrived with more than a few whispers about his ability to accompany him. Jockey Ed Vaughan, riding for Tom Malone, now works at the Millstone Stables yard of Bradley Gibbs and will doubtless be looking forward to another successful season. Josh Newman and Penarthur finished in third.

A year ago, to the day, young Dewi Haddock had his first ride in a point to point and on his return to the track steered home Paul O’Donnells Kap de Triomphe to victory in the Men’sOpen. The race was sadly reduced to a match by the reluctant favourite Bumpy Evans who decided that the chance of Ed Vaughan scoring a quick double were not on his cards when he refused to leave the start. A former inmate of the Christian Williams yard Kap de Triomphe was a first runner for owner O’Donnell who is the partner of Dewi’s grandmother Bev. He now has as one hundred percent strike rate as an owner and trainer Dewi will be keen to keep that record up. Dewi is another who has relocated to the Gibbs/ Sheriff yard as he felt that working on a yard with a high percentage of point-to-point horses may enable him to have more rides between the flags.

The Ladies Open saw a photo finish between St Cuthberts Cave and Hurricane Highway with the former coming out the victor as they passed the post with Au Fleuron back in third. The son of Court Cave is trained by Jospeh O’Shea, and he heaped praise on the organisers of the event for their efforts in getting the ground in such good condition after an extremely dry summer.

The event could not take place at all if it were not for the generosity of the landowner David Walters who was rewarded for his efforts by seeing his home bred Stroke of an Angel romp home a sixteen-length victor of the Four- and Five-Year-Old Flat Race. The mare is trained at Walters home by Tori Thomas, wife of Gold Cup winning jockey and trainer Sam Thomas who was present but on baby-sitting duties. A real eyecatcher in the paddock the mare looks to have a bright future and will no doubt make the step up to under rules racing in the near future. It was a just reward for the efforts of Walters to keep racing in Wales alive and all the permanent structures at the track including the Sponsors building which offers a viewing platform of the entire track have been created by him.

With connections of horses being offered free bacon rolls and a hot drink in the lorry park before racing, winning owners and trainers being taken for celebratory drinks in their own marquee and Lawney Hill providing excellent commentary to the crowds pre-race filling them in all the details of each runner and then interviewing winning connections this felt so much more than a Point to Point and the top class team behind the event have set the bar high for those who follow. We wont return to Machen until April, which is a shame for us racegoers but allows the hard-working Wales Area team a chance to recover and plan another high standard event.

All races can be viewed on the GB Pointing website.