On the right track to start the season

Apr 8 2008 by Maureen Lloyd, Western Mail

WALES & Border Counties hosted their second meeting of the 2008 season last Saturday on a cold day at the all-weather track at Tai’rgwaith, near Ammanford.

There was tremendous racing with some close finishes proving several stables have been able to get their horses fit even so early in the year.

The young horses start in the nursery race and what better surface can they have on which to learn their trade than this level track in Carmarthenshire.

Merry Messenger made his season’s debut driven by the experienced ex-National Hunt jockey Wayne Knox. This horse has lots of potential but does have a tendency to fly out of the gate with little thought of the stamina needed to complete the race. He notched up a good victory for the Wellings family from Ludlow, with farmer’s wife Janet Thomas, from Tregroes, and her youngster True Grit not far behind.

Lyons Frank took the Novice race for builder Robert Langford, from Pontardawe, Ayr Force One (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn) again followed him in while Lucky Nipper (Thomas Llandeilo) got his name on the board for the first time this season.

There were two heats of the grade B with Llangadog winner Bon Bethan (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) taking another victory with Bristol-based Louisa Myers doing the steering.

Results

Nursery: 1, Merry Messenger (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Wellings, Ludlow; 2, True Grit; 3, C U Boykin Time: 2:29.13

Baby Novice: 1, Brywins Badlands (Richard Williams) owned and trained Williams, Carmarthen; 2, East of Eden; 3, Saunders Bliss Time: 2:13.11

Novice: 1, Lyons Frank (Melanie Langford) owned & trained Langford Pontardawe; 2, Ayr Force One; 3, Lucky Nipper Time: 2:11.25

Grade B – heat 1: 1, Bon Bethan (Louisa Myers) owned & trained Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey; 2, I’ll Always Be The Man; 3, Vrynwy Chef Time: 2:07.07

Grade B – heat 2: 1, Wellfield Xpense (Melanie Langford) owned & trained Langford, Ludlow; 2, Blackfield Willy; 3 Meadowbranch Mike Time: 2:10.81

Grade B final: 1, Wellfield Xpense; 2, Bon Bethan; 3, Blackfield Willy Time: 2:07.37

Grade A: 1, Purple Rain (Melanie Langford) owned Edwards Bromfield trained Langford Ludlow; 2, Live the Dream; 3, Master Chance Time: 2:08.21