08 February 2010 Report: Vale of Clettwr - Erw Lon
by Amanda Meakins
CHESNUT ANNIE: continued her amazing record in Ladies Opens
photo: Alun Sedgmore
On one of the sunniest days so far of 2010, 19-year-old Jessica Jones of Carmarthen welcomed into the winners' enclosure her horse Pussigny, winner by a distance of the opening Hunt Members race at Erw Lon on Saturday, fifty years after her grandfather Trefor Jones trained his first winner at the Pencader track. Ridden by her father Dai, it's a milestone many will fail to emulate and after such tough winter weather-wise to train Pointers, a great achievement.
Another landmark came up later in the afternoon when Isabel Tompsett rode the 50th winner of her career aboard Chesnut Annie in the Ladies Open, the partnership resuming 2010 pretty much how they signed off last year. The duo set a relentless gallop from flag fall and only one of her rivals from the four starters, Bob Bites Back ridden by Chloe Roddick, could keep up. However, he cried enough and pulled himself up before the newly situated open ditch by the lorry park, leaving Isabel and Chesnut Annie to coast home alone. This was Annie's 20th career win for owner/trainer Beth Roberts
Dai Rees and John Mathias are in unstoppable form at the moment and today was to be no exception when taking both divisions of the Maiden. John, last season's Area Champion male jockey, is now employed full time by Rees after completing his education at Pembrokeshire College. gaining a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
Dai's first division winner Rith Bob was sent off the even money favourite. The fall three out of Princess De Rome and Rhys Hughes made life easier for the mare who began to tire and wander badly between the last two fences. It took strong handling form Mathias to get her home a fast diminishing three lengths ahead of Isabel Thompsett and Leprechaun's Gold.
The second division winner, French purchase Rimini, was available at 5-1 on some bookmakers' boards. The ex-Evan Williams inmate Cool Cliché, now trained by John Llewellyn and ridden by Isabel Tompsett, was sent off the 4-5 favourite. Leading coming into the last, Cool Cliché held every chance, but Mathias was ready to pounce putting Rimini to lead at the line by a length.A further length back in third was Young Brave and Ben Brisbourne; a mistake at the 2nd last cost him dearly and he is definitely one to follow next time out.
Six went to post in the Mens Open, with the odds on favourite Warsaw Pact winning like an odds on shot should, by a distance. An ex inmate of Sir Mark Prescott and Phillip Hobbs, Warsaw Pact is no stranger to the horsebox or the races and at the age of six has probably clocked up more miles then Michael Palin. Connections are keen to remain Pointing for a while so the horse can enjoy himself, as he was in dire need of cheering up when arriving at Robert Scrine's yard.
Opening up at 7-2, supporters of Oca De Thaix soon had him down to 4-6 at the start of the Restricted. Despite some dubious tail swishing from three out, he came home under a determined Rhys Hughes ride by two lengths from Pathian Prince and John Mathias.
The form surrounding Up There, the winner of the concluding Confined race, did little to install faith of a win with six of his last seven runs resulting in a letter not a figure by his name. However, this did not stop him registering a four length win over Twilight Dancer, in doing so recording the same race time as the Mens Open. Owner Mrs Rae Jones was understandably elated, as was jockey Liam Payter.
Work is now on at the course to get it ready for the next meeting, the Carmarthenshire on Saturday 20th February. This meeting also includes pony racing with a start time of 11am.
