20 May 2010 Preview: Gelliagar Farmers - Lower Machen
by Brian Lee
CLASSIC CHANCE: aiming to land the Confined for the second year in a row
photo: Alun Sedgmore
The Gelligaer Farmers stage their annual Point-to-Point over the popular Lower Machen course, near Newport, on Saturday.
Racing gets under way with the Members race at 2pm and Sherfield Don, who finished third behind Cutlass Silver and Blazing Signet when contesting the Restricted here a fortnight ago, should get backers off to a good start.
There are 18 down to run in the Confined and the two that catch the eye are Rosie's Peacock, owned, bred and trained by David Llewellyn, brother of Grand National winning jockey Carl Llewellyn, and the front running Classic Chance, a winner here in the past and a winner at the Monmouthshire earlier this season.
Of the 21 entries for the Mixed Open, Welsh hopes rest with Grey Kid, Roznic and Makena while the invaders include Gunner Jack, Jaunty Times and Waynesworld. The last named, which is trained by Marilyn Scudamore, took the Mens Open at the Golden Valley last weekend.
Doug Lloyd's Jackson Town, who made all under Mark Jackson to win a two-and-a-half mile Maiden here a fortnight ago, should have little trouble in staying three miles. However, with Pathian Prince, Tostaky, On Oath and course winner Synisterdexter also entered in the 36-strong Restricted race he will not have matters all his own way this time.
Don't Be Short, which finished two lengths behind Jackson Town, has a good chance in the young horse Maiden, for which there are 22 entries. Another to consider is Lady Trig who finished a good third behind Clover Rock and Getmeoutthedoldrums last week.
Emily Farr has a choice of riding either Willotte or Little Miss Monty in the aged horse Maiden (23 entries) and two others worth mentioning are Bunny McDougall and Gem Mill.
