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MANORMOUSE: under Kyle "The Style" Yates
photo: Alun Sedgmore

If Manormouse was, as seems likely, to be Beverley Thomas's final runner, the Pembrokeshire trainer went out on a high after Adrian Simpson's six-year-old took the Restricted in the hands of Kyle Yates. Beverley is giving up training at the end of the season, and the ground conditions at Trecoed on June 6 will determine whether or not she has a runner there.

"I've really enjoyed it while I've been doing it," said Beverley, "but it's been about 12 years, and I need a rest from it." With some unbroken youngsters at home to bring on, Beverley has not ruled out the possibility of her name appearing on the racecards some time in the future.

She described Manormouse as "very immature," adding "You could almost say that he won his Maiden a bit too quickly." She had nothing but praise for Kyle, who has been working for her this season. "He's a very good rider who deserves more than Point-to-Pointing can offer him," she opined. "He needs a chance in a big yard."

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Kyle completed his first double with a bloodless success in the Intermediate on Holmwood Legend, a real old-fashioned chasing type trained for his mother Janet by David Underwood, who works at Peter Bowen's yard. David gained his only victory on Holmwood Legend last year, but decided midway through this season to hand over the reins to his more experienced friend and colleague.

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The Ladies' Open went to Laura Thomas on Noadibou, trained by her mother Sally. Laura, who works for John O'Shea, was out of action last year after suffering two fractured vertebrae in a fall on her first ride of the 2007/8 season at Ideford Arch, and was in a brace for nearly six months. "I wanted something safe for her," said Sally, and it was Laura's boyfriend Gandy, who works for Evan Williams, who suggested the giant French-bred, who stands well over 17hh.

Laura had ridden her first winner on Noadibou at Andoversford, and 15 years earlier, almost to the day, Sally had also trained Up The Ladder to provide her brother Adrian Wintle with his initial success.

For this race Laura had actually swapped her light saddle with the heavier one belonging to Lucy Pearce Rowsell, and it was Lucy who finished second on Chandlers Cross. "I'm getting mine back right now," Lucy exclaimed in mock anger!

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John Mathias was still sidelined after a fall at Bredwardine - he is due to take a concussion test this week - and so missed the winning Men's Open ride on Misamon, on whom Nick Williams proved an able deputy. Misamon is owned by trainer Dai Rees with various members of his family, and was bought by Mark Gichero, who finds the majority of the Rees horses. "That was just like a piece of work to him," reasoned Dai after Misamon had skipped round in under six minutes.

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Ruth Birt-Llewellin attributed Usk Valley's Novice Rider race victory to his liking for the sea. Ruth, who helps out at her parents' Bed and Breakfast establishment at Little Haven in Pembrokeshire, takes Usk Valley to the beach every day, and she also takes him swimming at the end of the season.

Usk Valley was sidelined last season after a fall two years ago which left Ruth unconscious for ten minutes and her mount with a fractured neck.

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Jonathan Tudor, who was acting as clerk of the scales at the meeting, legged up his cousin James to win the Maiden on Musique En Tete. "That was a surprise, as he usually likes finishing second," smiled James, referring to the fact that the chestnut had been runner-up on his three previous outings.

His form earlier in the season had been poor. "He was nearly on his way back to Ascot [where he was purchased in October] in April, but then it was found he had kidney stones," explained joint-owner, with Colin White and his daughter Victoria Pryor, Jeff Bird. Perhaps the most excited onlooker was Victoria's ten-year-old daughter Lily, who was trying to persuade her mother to let her take the trophy to school to show all her friends.

Musique En Tete, "a real gentleman," could not be held largely responsible for his one lapse from good behaviour, having caused £1,000 of damage to an injudiciously parked car at the opening meet.

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