The sun shone and the crowds came in their thousands to watch the racing at the Glamorgan meeting last Saturday...
It was the first time that we had gathered on the Redlands course to watch racing between the flags in three years, but it soon felt like yesterday as familiar faces came to greet us and racegoers found their usual spot to watch the days racing. They were rewarded with some exciting racing; praise must go to landowner Tudor Harris for his hard work watering the course to provide excellent going, and for the Glamorgan committee; not least their long standing and hard-working secretary Peter Thomas who emerged from his tent at the end of the day looking like a man who will take time to recover.
The opener, the Hunt Members race saw three go to post. Odds on favourite Sideways (IRE) could only watch as the black tail of Yeats Ace (IRE) powered away from him up the hill under Bradley Gibbs to score a victory for Clive and Carol Banwell. Regular fans of ITV racing will have recognised Clive and he led in his winner. Often to be seen leading in winners for Christian Williams Clive has become something of a celebrity as his recovery from a serious health issue has captured the imagination of the ITV pundits and they have spoken to him on several occasions. Clive will not object to it being mentioned that he is, despite his appearance, officially a “pensioner” but this does not stop him being heavily involved with racing and his dates in the diary for the next few weeks include Sandown and Punchestown.
The runners of the first of the two maidens on the card, the older horse maiden was next to go to post and this resulted in an exciting four-way charge to the last including Getaway Gwen (IRE), Fun de Nuit (IRE) and Blackfinch (IRE). Getaway Gwen emerged the victor by a neck for Charlie Sprake and Danielle Keneally. Fun de Nuit and Daniel Ellis held Blackfinch and Harriet Tudor by half a length. Nineteen-year-old Charlie works for Will Biddick and was riding his seventh winner between the flags having also scored a win under rules.
There were a couple of races on the day held over the shorter distance of two miles and four furlongs; and one of these was the JC and ROR Veteran Horse Conditions Race. The race started with joint favourites Spencer Moon (IRE) and Robin Des People (IRE), and these were the two horses involved in the battle for the honours. The gallant Spencer Moon, now fourteen years of age, showed an enthusiasm that belied his age as he led up the final hill, but Robin Des People and Saskia Jones had him in their sights and managed to whittle the winning distance down to two lengths. Spencer Moon had not shown form in the last few seasons, and this was attributed to a large swelling in his groin area which needed time to disappear. The pandemic and lack of racing, it was said by the father of trainer Luke Price, did him a favour as it allowed him the time to rest and recover.
The Mixed Open race was part of the INEOS Grenadier series and a qualifier for their final at Cheltenham, Oliver Brissenden and Lord Lipsey made the journey from the Golden Valley country with Financial Outcome (IRE). The horse was purchased for jockey Carys Morris after a chance meeting in a restaurant between herself and the horse’s owner. The twenty-year-old, who hails from Brecon and started her career in the Pony Club, was overheard stating her desire to ride in a point to point and the result was the purchase of Financial Outcome. This was her first win from seven rides. Lookenowtlikebrian (IRE) and Oisin Radford followed them home by half a length with Galop Du Bosc (FR) back in third.
The most poignant victory of the day came from the hotly backed favourite Springtown Sal (IRE) in the colours of the Redland Partnership and ridden by Bradley Gibbs. Landowner Tudor Harris is part of the partnership and sadly Point to Point racing will not return to the Bonvilston track after this year. Springtown Sal finished alone but had given the rest of the field fifteen lengths before the last. Her win gave Bradley Gibbs a double on the day making the long trip for Hertfordshire worthwhile.
The final race of the day saw perseverance pay off for young Daniel Ellis who has been suffering bouts of “seconditis” for some time. A call during the week has provided him with the ride on Broomfields Cave (IRE) or Myles Osborne who made the journey from the Heythrop country to take part in the meeting. This was Daniels third win of the season, and it is sometimes difficult to remember that he is still only seventeen years old.
The meeting concluded with a pony race which saw a victory for Bruce Vaughan and the smart chestnut Avalon Dancer.