Praise for young Welsh rider

Nov 27 2007 by Brian Lee, Western Mail

FORMER Welsh point-to-point rider Sam Thomas from Abergavenny, came in for a lot of praise after proving an able deputy for the sidelined Ruby Walsh when winning the £114,000 Betfair Chase on Gold Cup hero Kauto Star at Haydock last Saturday.

Sam, who was riding in the most important race of his life, had to change tactics after Kauto Star was left in the lead sooner than expected.

However, despite all the pressure the 23-year-old Welshman had been carrying on his young shoulders, ever since he learned that he would be riding the most famous horse in National Hunt racing, he kept his cool and drove his mount home half-a-length clear of Exotic Dancer in an exciting finish.

Sam, who also won on Lightning Strike and Opera Mundi, said, “It is a great milestone in my career.”

Meanwhile, David Brace, sponsor of the Dunraven Bowl Hunter Chase to be held at Chepstow Racecourse on April 25, and who has had more than 100 winners between-the-flags and under rules, has taken me to task over my comments in last week’s column when I reviewed the latest Hunter Chasers & Point-to-Pointers Annual, edited by Iain McKenzie and Martin Harris.

Mr Brace takes exception to my calling the book “the point-to-point bible“. He claims the caustic comments about the horses do little to encourage owners of one or two point-to-pointers who he says are the backbone of the sport.

He says that the Irish equivalent Formcard is a much better book which doesn’t resort to the kind of cheap comments found in Hunter Chasers & Point-To-Pointers.

Having been verbally attacked by owners, trainers and riders over the years, who have mistakenly thought that I had been responsible for the comments in the annual, I know how upsetting these comments can be. And while I agree with Mr Brace that Hunter Chasers & Point-To-Pointers does appear to look down on the sport in Wales – I have said so myself in print on a number of occasions – I still stand by my comments that the book is recognised as the definitive book on point-to-pointing in the UK.

One Weatherbys Chase publication that Mr Brace won’t have any complaints about I’m sure is the Point-To-Point & Hunter Chase Race Planner 2007/8. It contains the details and race conditions of every point-to-point and hunter chase to be run during the coming season. It also includes a pony racing section, national and area feature races area championships and awards and information for owners and riders. It is available from Weatherbys Chase, Sanders Road, Wellingborough, Northampton, NN8 4BX at £20 plus £2.p&p.

The Tredegar Farmers Hunt Point-To-Point to be held at Lower Machen on May 4 will stage the South Wales Area feature race with £350 going to the winner, £100 to the second and £50 to the third.

The winner of this mixed open race will also be eligible for the £10,000 Volkswagen Touareg Men’s Championship to be held at Towcester on May 12.

The West Wales Area feature race will be the ladies’ open at the Pembrokeshire Hunt Point-To-Point at Haverfordwest on June 7. First home will receive £250, second £150 and third £100.

You can email your news and views to Brian Lee at leebrian@btinternet.com or telephone 029 2073 6438