06 May 2009 Preview: Tredegar Farmer - Lower Machen
by Brian Lee
More than 140 entries have been received for this Sunday's Tredegar Farmers Point-To-Point Steeplechases held over the popular Lower Machen racecourse near Newport. First race is at 2pm.
Edna Hussey's Bob Bites Back, winner of the Dunraven Bowl Hunter Chase at Chepstow recently, and who beat the previous year's winner of the race Lady Myfanwy at Monday's Banwen Miners' meeting will, according to his connections, face the starter in the Members' race. If so the promising seven-year-old will start at prohibitive odds. Shuil An Burren, pulled up when made joint favourite at the Banwen Miners on Monday, would be the one to be on in Bob Bites Back's absence.
Beth Roberts' Chesnut Annie, a winner of all her ten races this season, is down to run in the Ladies Open race, the South Wales Area Feature race, for which there are 15 entries. However, she deserves a rest and in her likely absence Lucy Jones's Dancing Credit, a winner of her last three races, has Honest Endeavour and Mollycarrsbrekfast to beat.
There are 25 entries in the race for novice and veteran riders and the ones to watch here are Ingrid Shervington's Grey Kid, who made all to beat solitary rival Touch Closer by 20 lengths at the Llangeinor, Rhys David's grey mare Tanmeya, who outjumped her four rivals to win the Members at that meeting, and the Robert Porter trained Passenger Omar - runner-up to Dancing Credit on his previous start.
Chris Bolton's Tigu, a good winner at Bonvilston recently, would be a popular winner of the Mens Open race. Steve Whistance's Overlut, a winner of three of his four races this season, and Esters Boy are two others to consider, while Ian Prichard's Alroyal has several options.
Of the 32 in the restricted, Micks Prospect, Final Mick and Holmwood Legend, who won the maiden here last year, all have chances.
With 45 down to run in the Open Maiden, division on the field looks likely. Canndar and Musique En Tete are two to note.
