Having your first Point to Point ride on your sixteenth birthday is exciting enough in itself; having Dad beside you throughout the race puts a whole new perspective on it. This was the case for the Barfoot-Saunts on Saturday when father and son set off under clear skies and blazing sunshine to challenge for the Edmund Roberts Mixed Open Race at the rearranged Llangeinor Pentyrch meeting. This potentially was history being made as no one could recall this happening previously. Unfortunately, Lauren Keen- Hawkins and the James Bourne trained Dandy Dan had not read the script and proceeded to run out convincing winners of the contest. This was Lauren’s fifth winner between the flags, in the Cheltenham based jockey has also had one winner under rules.
The re-arranged meeting started at 2:00 PM with the Hunt Members Subscribers and Farmers Race, victory going to the David Brace trained and Oisian Radford ridden LooksnowtlikeBrian. This was Brian's fourth win of the season and his third within 10 days. This is a feat reminiscent of days gone by when horses would turn out week in, week out due to the shortness of the Welsh season. Brian has been known to “miss” the odd fence, but Oisian gets a fine tune out of him, and victory was never in doubt. Ellie Jefferson on her own Danny Archer completed in second with Henry Pugh and Clemencia finishing third despite challenging for second close to the line. Oisian commented on his winning ride that all had gone to plan, and the horse had always been in command.
The second race on the card was the PPORA Club Members Conditions Race, this saw a victory for young Talor Hopkins aboard her father's Minella Encore. Talor is still only 18 years old and has only had about seven rides in total, but this is her third win on the Kings Theatre gelding who at 11 years old has plenty of experience behind him, looks able to give Talor more success in the future. The well fancied Sylvie's Dance had travelled from the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale country but could only finish back in second with Henry Pugh and Killarro Boy third.
The Retraining of RaceHorses and Jockey Club Veteran Horse Conditions Race saw a victory for Commanche Red and young Molly Landau. Those who have been following National Hunt racing for a number of years will remember Molly's father Guy competing at the highest level. The ten-year-old son of Mahler had pulled up last time out but needs the firmer ground hence the team making the journey from the Winchester area to South Wales to compete in this race on the day. Molly is now top of the Novice rider’s table. Trainer Jenny Gordon is a big fan of the contest and is well prepared to travel to give her horse the opportunity to succeed; she has stated that she hopes there will be more of these races in the future to give the older horses a chance to shine, and feels that the series has perhaps gone unnoticed by some trainers this year.
The Restricted Race was run in memory of Dil Thomas who was, for a long time, one of the biggest characters in the Llangeinor Community. Victory went the way of one of Wales most prominent racing families, that of Evan and Cath Williams with Prime Pretender passing the post first under daughter Ellie. This was an emotional contest for the horse’s owner as it was her first winner since the passing of her late husband. Until Prime Pretender’s victory all the horses sent out in her late husband's colours had failed to score so the eight-year-old’s win was a tearful but gratifying event. Cotswold Vale Raider Tango Pete chased them home in second with Inca Rose, who had decided to turn himself upside down in the horsebox prior to the start of the event, coming home in third.
Racing proper finished with the Maiden race the sixth race on the card which went the way of Itsnotcosiownhim for Ynysybwl Luke Price and David Van Poucke. The horse had troubled the judge on two occasions previously, just falling short, and his owner was well pleased with his success. Having bred his own horses for a number of years, not for the racetrack, Mr Van Poucke is now of the opinion that he should have joined the ranks of racing owners earlier. Hedgehopper came home in second for Mr and Mrs Ross Farr, and it was very gratifying to see their colours back in the enclosure after an absence of a number of seasons. Two of Welsh racing's most stalwart supporters Shan and Ross Farr were winning races long before many of the jockeys riding on the day had even been born. It is this kind of resilience and dedication that will carry Point to Point racing into the future. Am I wrong and James King completed the line-up back in 3rd.
The day finished with two pony races, which as ever were well supported and extremely competitive. Lowan Cruise Mills taking the 138 division with Avalon Dancer and Jude Brace taking the larger pony division with the grey She's A Lady.