The Welsh weather Gods have never been known to be kind and after weeks of glorious sunshine decided to make us remember what racing in West Wales is actually like, providing a misty outlook and constant drizzle for Saturday’s meeting. Unperturbed, the Welsh racing crowd were happy to be back in the place in which they are happiest, a wet field on a mountainside and turned out in decent numbers in what will be the last meeting on this year’s Welsh calendar.
The highlight of the day’s racing was, without any shadow of doubt, the victory of Hedgehopper in the Maiden (NWFAA) contest, ridden by James King. The colours of Shan and Ross Farr have been seen on Welsh Point to Point courses for years; more than Shan would like to recall, and have been worn by many winners in that time including a victory in one of the earliest runnings of the Dunraven Bowl with the gallant Saffron Moss; but none would have been more emotional or had more meaning than this one. Nearly all of the horses that have run in the Farr colours are home bred and are exercised on the hillsides of the Rhondda valleys. Over the years they have known to double their racehorse duties as shepherding ponies to bring the flock down from the mountainside. This winner is no exception; out of the home bred mare Little Miss Monty who ran no fewer than sixty six times in her career winning three and being placed on twenty seven other occasions, she was herself the daughter of Miss Montgomery, a diminutive but able mare who was one of the Farr’s rare imports having been born in Ireland. Another tough cookie, Miss Montgomery raced thirty-nine times winning three and being placed on several other occasions. Hedgehopper is the latest in this family to grace the winner’s enclosure and the victory carried strong emotions, the Welsh racing community having sadly lost former Male Champion rider Ross only a few weeks ago. Hedgehopper ( who I am told by his breeder answers to the name of Gwilym in his free time) was led in by Shan and Ross’s daughter Emily, a successful jockey based in New Zealand, who then donned the family colours to display her skills in the Hunt Scurry race passing the line in front. Amongst the loud cheers when Hedgehopper returned to the number one spot there were also tears as Ross was known and remembered fondly by so many of the community as a jockey, breeder, owner trainer and Steward. It is families like the Farrs that keep the true spirit of point to pointing alive, and we must hope that we never lose it. On his way to victory Hedgehopper had beaten the favourite Charlies Jetaway, one of several Irish horses that had crossed the water to take part in the event.
The Irish had taken the opening race on the card, the young horse maiden, with Sharing is Caring narrowly holding on under James King, who was on the first leg of what would be a treble on the day. Captain Ted was back in second and Shuil Rocco in third. Punters would have been excused if they had thought they had arrived at Cheltenham and not Ffynnon Druidion as all three of these horses had come across the water.
Ed Vaughan and John Mathias were the first to strike for the home team when My Girl Katie ran out a fifteen-length victor of the Restricted contest. The former inmate of the Grace Harris yard, was having her second start in Point to Points and clearly relishes the drop-in class; despite having shown ability in her under rules carer she had not managed to get her head in front. Irish raider Richieandsamslady followed her home in second with the Berkshire qualified Gallant Geronimo back in third.
The Welsh also claimed the winner’s spot in the Mixed Open when Ed Vaughan took his second win of the day with his father’s Dalamoi, the odds-on favourite. Dalamoi’s victory made that four wins from four starts between the flags. Another recruit from the National Hunt Field Dalamoi also has two chase and one hurdle victories to his name. Chillinlikeavillain took second spot for Mickey Bowen partnered by Harvey Barfoot-Saunt.
The Conditions (Level 3) contest saw the final leg of James King’s treble when he partnered David Van-Poukes consistent gelding Lavorante to victory. The nine-year-old Milan gelding, trained by Luke Price, was scoring his sixth win between the flags and was a deserving favourite. Immaculately turned out, as are all Luke’s charges, the good-looking bay gelding stood out in the paddock. His nearest rival Ringsend John was eleven lengths in his wake with Irish raider Concert in Town in third. Concert in Town will be one to watch for the future as he is still a maiden having only his second run for trainer Cormac Doyle.
The final race on the card was the Four- and Five-Year-old flat race; the last such race in the planner for this year and the Irish were out in force. A couple of slip ups during the race left Yanka Blue and Jack Hendrick fighting the closing stages with Jury Belle and Rian Corcoran. Yanka Blue took a step to the left coming into the run in and unseated her rider leaving Jury Belle to run out an eight-length winner. This was the second winner of the day for trainer John “Shark” Hanlon well known for his handling of the King George Winner Hewick.
The day ended with a Pony race and the Hunt Scurry race and was finished off with a warm welcome being provided to the Irish in the beer tent. A postscript to this – the only winner on the card not bred in Ireland was Hedgehopper. Another feather in the cap for the Farr family. Long may their successes continue.