REPORT – WALES AREA CLUB (SUNDAY 19TH APRIL)

Point to point royalty was in attendance at Lower Machen this weekend when multiple champion lady rider Gina Andrews teamed up with her own Fumet d’Oudaries in the Mixed Open, which sported a first prize of a thousand pounds. Gina has ridden more winners over fences than any other British female and her tally of victories between the flags and under fences has passed the half century mark. Her mount, an eleven year old French bred, is a multiple winner in his own right and his rider claimed that he enjoyed the track with its undulations and despite her wanting to keep him behind found him carrying himself to the front, and he ran out a five length winner ahead of Corporal Jackjones with Uno Mass coming home in third. 

 The large crowd that had flocked to the picturesque course were treated to some excellent racing on the day and also to a fair share of drama. The gallant Ask Dai, under Bradley Gibbs, had led from flag fall to cross the line in front in the Conditions contest only to be demoted to second after a lengthy enquiry by the stewards. It was deemed that he had caused sufficient interference with the second during the run-in to lose the race. This was not only a disappointment for his backers but for his owner/trainer David Gibbs who had recently been in hospital and is still on the “easy list” under doctors’ orders. The 2/1 favourite, Clondaw Drake reaped the benefit of the steward’s decision and was promoted to first place giving him a tally of six wins from ten starts between the flags and increasing his riders to tally to one hundred and eight. The well fancied Big Breakaway was five lengths back in third. 

 Bradley Gibbs fortunes changed in the Intermediate contest when Ask Elli was victorious for her owner breeders. The Castles have been breeding point to pointers for many years and owned the great, great, great grandmother of the daughter of Schiaparelli, who saw off the challenges of Eileen’s Milan and Mayor Kingston to score impressively. 

 The day had started with a first win this side of “the water” for James Murray aboard Tenthousandreasons. James had ridden in Irish point to points before coming to ride out for Mickey Bowen and taking up his licence in Great Britain. The five-year-old son of Crystal Ocean was a former inmate of the Bowen yard and ran out an impressive five length winner, Doctor Glide who had been in the fray from the off followed him home with Standupanddeliver behind. The twelve runner NWFAA Maiden race was one of the busiest of the day. 

The remaining Maiden on the card was a quieter affair and the talented youngster Taktics reaped revenge for her Howick defeat by coming home three lengths clear under Ed Vaughan. Still only a four-year-old the mare is sure to progress through the ranks. Newton Gold had been in pursuit but failed to close the gap and Devon Rouge had every chance three from home but found the pace of the first two too strong in the closing stages. Taktics was the first of a training double on the day for Chris Barber who sent out Flora Hobbs to win the initial division of the Flat race, which was divided on the day. The four-year-old daughter of Jack Hobbs scored an easy victory ahead of Gallant Warrior, who won a close battle for the minor placings with Arty Dodger. 

Laugusto was purchased as an unbroken three-year-old by owner Robert Jones and his two-year wait was well rewarded as the five-year-old scored a comfortable victory in the second division of the Flat race. The gelding made virtually all of the running and looks to have a promising future. Mansart and Gruline bay chased him home. 

That was the end of the point-to-point action, but the crowd were then entertained by two pony races before the event drew to a close. It was good to be back at Lower Machen, and with over fifty horses facing the starter throughout the afternoon many are already looking to returning to the track for more excellent racing in the autumn.