Report – Welsh International (Friday 22nd May)

Sadly, the swathe of Equine Flu cases that is sweeping across the South Wales area at present prevented the Irish contingent from attending the meeting this year. They were much missed and hopefully will be back in force for the next event. This left only a contingent of British runners to tackle the course at Ffynon Druidion on the Friday before the Bank Holiday. Whilst not bathed in sunshine like some parts of the UK the weather was a vast improvement on last year and the sea could be clearly seen from the course, which is in some of the most beautiful countryside you will find on the Point to Point Calendar.

 Many youngsters will have been turned out to grass for the summer so it was understandable that the first contest, the Four and Five year old maiden fielded only two runners. The John Mathias trained Chief Joseph Ranch was sent off favourite but despite the best efforts of Bradley Gibbs who had journeyed from his Hertfordshire base, he could only finish behind Mickey Bowen’s Litaque and young James Murray who rides out for Welsh trainer Christian Williams.

 The Restricted contest saw six go to post and the win went to the well fancied Doctor Glide, giving young Ed Vaughan the first leg of a double on the day. The eight year old, trained by father Tim at home, made all and finished strongly, holding off the challenge of Kow Boy Sivola who had finished gamely to make up  ground from the rear of the field. James Murray had to be content for third this time on the Lower Machen winner Tenthousandreasons.

 Ed’s second win of the day came aboard Luke Price’s Lavorante in the Hunt Members race. The gallant son of MIlan defied his ten pound penalty and justified his 3-1 on favouritism. Lavorante then made a quick reappearance at Chaddesley Corbett a few days later and is now officially the National Champion Horse having seven wins to his name. Full credit goes to his trainer for maintaining the horse in such fine form throughout the season. On this occasion he ran out a very impressive fifteen length winner with The Golden Rebel back in second and Carry on Beauty taking third.

 Another Welshman who will be picking up trophies at awards dinners later this year is Dewi Haddock, who added another win to his tally aboard Abbie Willmott’s Laura’s Girl in the NWFAA Maiden.  The mare held a one length advantage from Buck’s Dream but was never under any pressure; these were the only two to complete.

 The other race on the card, the Conditions race, was declared void. Following Jetronic being pulled out three of the remaining runners missed the fifteenth fence. Sadly this was the result of a fatal injury to the favourite Ask Dai, who was well in command when jockey Bradley Gibbs felt him lose his action and swiftly pulled him out of the fence. The other two runners then took the same course. It was a sad end to the career of a gallant and much loved little horse who had, in his career, survived a fractured pastern and two strained tendons and also fallen foul of the stewards room, an action that cost him fifty percent of his actual victories.

 Despite the event being held on a Friday there was a good crowd in attendance and there was, as was the same last year an “old fashioned” feel to the meeting, reminding us of the good old days when races were held in Wales nearly every weekend from March until late May. For now the picnic hampers have been packed away, horses are heading out to grass and a well deserved summer approaches for trainers, jockeys and grooms alike.