There was a double for Bradley Gibbs at the Carmarthenshire meeting, as he started on his campaign to keep hold of the Leading Welsh Rider title again this season.
The first of his winners came in the opening Carmarthenshire Hunt Members' race aboard Frelia (pictured) for his father Dai. The pair jumped off in front and made all to score by 30 lengths from Tavertine (Bobby Thomas), who was the only other finisher after Design Plan was pulled up before the last fence.
Bradley then had to wait until the final race to secure his double, when taking the 10-runner-strong Flat Race, with Wilcox And Co for Roger Wilcox. The five-year-old by Dr Massini was always handy before taking up the lead six furlongs out and running on well despite the effort to catch them by After The Fox (Robert Hawker), who ran on to finish four-and-a-half lengths back in second. The pair were both 7/2 joint-favourites, with 5/1 chance Dromore Mountain finishing third for Evan David and Gareth Moore.
It was a great day for the English horses, with the rest of the afternoon's races being taken by those from across the border.
The long journey back to Cornwall was made that much sweeter for trainer Ben Clarke and his team as they took the Open Maiden with The Galloping Bear for jockey Darren Andrews. The 5/1 shot was unchallenged after taking up the lead, going well clear of all his rivals three fences from the finish to score by 50 lengths back to The Go Tou Man (Corey McGivern), with Letter Exit (Scott Malson) a further 25 lengths back in third.
It was certainly a day to remember for young jockey Alexandra Ingram who made her first ride between the flags a winning one when taking the Conditions race aboard the French-bred Kaki de La Pree, who was undoubtedly the most impressive winner of the day. The 12-year-old seemed to relish the soft ground, and after hitting the front two fences from the finish as all their rivals were stopping, the pair stormed home 20 lengths clear of the only other finisher – Dan's Wee Man for trainer Peter Mason.
The Philip Rowley-trained Wishing and Hoping showed everyone just how versatile he is when, after winning The Lady Dudley Cup back in April on good ground, he made his seasonal return here a winning one in the unforgiving soft ground. He was the only finisher of the 12 that went to post, still in the fastest time of the day. The nine-year-old displayed a perfect round of jumping and could not be caught up the home straight by Midnight Folie (Tom Doggrell), who then pulled up before the last fence.
Taboo predictably improved on her debut run at Cottenham and made all the running to take The Jockey Club Open Maiden for Mares and Fillies by 25 lengths for jockey Kai Lenihan, with Neural (Bradley Gibbs) in second. The first two horses went off joint- favourite with 2/1 chance A Mill From Milan back in 3rd for Darren Andrews and Joe Tickle.
The Restricted was taken by Shometheway for Sam Jukes, who finished 25 lengths ahead of the early leader Dr Kananga, who had to battle it out for second with 3/1 favourite Isetuluvheronce, who finished just a neck behind in third for Byron Moorcroft and Luke Price.
Ffos Las has proved a fabulous venue for Carmarthen to host this day, the busy village under the grandstand housing the bookies as well as around about 20 small trade stands and a band later in the day. The Carmarthen committee have been innovative in how they have presented this meeting and there is little doubt it is likely to grow and develop as time goes on, and the enthusiastic team involved in running the event deserve to be congratulated.