16 February 2009 Preview: Carmarthenshire - Erw Lon
CHESTNUT ANNIE: has been entered in the Ladies Open
Saturday's Carmarthenshire Point-to-Point meeting at Erw Lon has received a large entry, and with the majority of Point-to-Point meetings in England being off over the last two weeks several trainers from outside the area are looking at making the journey to the West Wales track, especially as the Intermediate race is a Connolly's Red Mills qualifier, the first four home will qualify for entry in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Hunter Chase final at Cheltenham on May 6th.
The sponsors will be pleased with the quality entry of 19, including last time out winner Banbury Babe, consistent Welsh performers Bob Bites Back, Dracaena, Wolds Way, Hot Produxion (2nd in this race last year) and Tokpela, who may choose the much easier option of the Members. Travellers from over the bridge include Tom George's Tommy Thunder, North Cotswold qualified Royal Coberg (a bumper winner when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies) and Accordion Man - another former Evan Williams inmate now in the care of Sheila Crow - responsible for last years race winner, teaming up again with jockey Richard Burton.
The Mens Open promises to be the best Open race to have taken place in Wales for a long time. Ballycassidy will be out to confirm his superiority over Loch Quest, whom he beat at the Vale of Clettwr meeting 3 weeks ago, while three ex-Evan Williams inmates, Galtee View, Dancer Life & Overlut, will give both of these plenty to think about. All three were rated in the 120's under rules, and Overlut showed at the same Clettwr meeting his well being with his win in the Confined. Galtee View will be having his first run of the season, while Dancer Life is in a rich vein of form, having won an Open and being placed second in a Hunter Chase already this season.
The Ladies Open may see Chesnut Annie put under pressure, as Pembrokeshire's Lucy Jones has both Dancing Credit and Derawar entered, while Shafts Chance and Bak On Board are entered from the Welsh Borders. It's sure to be run at a fast and relentless gallop.
The two Maiden races have remained undivided, one for each sex and both look full of young talent. In the geldings race, the placed horses from the last meeting are set to race, along with the unlucky Trente Mars who unseated four out when clear. With fourteen entries for the Mares Maiden, the only race for mares only in Wales this season, organisers are thrilled with the response from Owners and Trainers.
Not many hunts are able to boast eleven entries for their Hunt Members race and it shows the increase in support the Carmarthenshire are enjoying at the moment, many of the runners will be having their first runs of the season so anything could happen with a real mixed bag of past form on show.
With a favourable weather forecast it will defiantly be worth the trip to Erw Lon, you can find it on the B4336 between Llanfiangel-ar-Arth and Llanwini, but remember that early start time of 11am.
