THIS year’s Almeley meeting on Saturday was a glorious summer’s day in stark contrast to last year when the rain poured down. The crowd were treated to a wonderful afternoon of spectacular racing on one of the best grass tracks in the area.

The nursery race which is for newcomers to the sport provided a win for the Brecon based Brywins Awesome ahead of the improving Evenwood Predator (Duggan, Howey) while new recruit Talavary Activator (Roberts, Dinmore) was third.

The afternoon consisted of all straight races, with no heats and finals. The first Novice race provided a win for the lightly raced Second Affair (Thomas Rhymney) driven as usual by Mark Evans in second was Evenwood Thumps Up (Lewis, Llanbister) just returning from injury while My Amazing Grace (Evans, Red Roses) was third. Rhyds Panalulah (Gething Ewyas Harold) with trainer Derek Pritchard in the seat continued in winning ways in the second Novice race ahead of The Chancer (Knox, Pandy) while Howdya Likemenow (Perks, Presteigne) and Wellfield Wally (Bevan, Builth Wells) shared third. Greenhill Lillian (Thomas, Rhymney) has been the season’s sensation and added to her reputation by winning the third Novice with the help of driver Mark Evans in second was the improving Hurricane Howard (Duggan, Llangunllo) while Jets Girl (Langford Onibury) ran on well to be third.

This week the open races were a mile and a quarter. The Grade B rewarded the connections of Lakeview Meg (Atherton-Rees, Narberth) for their long journey, helped as always by Mathew Tromans, in second was the lanky Made in Wales (Hawkes, Llanddewi) while Ayr Ontario (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) was third.

Ithon Inmate (Price, Brecon) loves the Almeley track and responded with a good win for his partner Derek Pritchard, beating another star performer Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) with the irrepressible Scoobys Dream (Williams, Brecon) in third. In the second Grade A the backmarker Lakeside Pan (Elder, New Quay) with trainer Wayne Elder at the controls snatched victory on the line from last week’s winner Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney) while Ayr Hero (Bevan, Llanddewi) was third.

Beg For Mercy with owner trainer Mathew Tromans from Newcastle Emlyn in the seat took the first Baby Novice race from newly promoted Dernol Yankee (Wozencraft, Llangurig) while Ithon King (Bevan Builth) was third. Garth Vader (Williams, Brecon) driven by trainer Andrew Hardwick looks an exciting prospect for the future, they just won the second Baby Novice from Bad Romance (Eggerton Norton Canon) while C U Maggie (Bevan, Llanddewi) was third.

This week’s saddle race was possibly the best of the season with seven horses lined up including the mother daughter combination of Myfanwy Miles and Rebecca Williams. On this occasion it was the daughter who prevailed with the enthusiastic Fold the Notes (Perks, Presteigne), in second was Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) while No Mercy (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) was third.

In the Junior race the advantage of a saddle horse sticking to the pegs was apparent as Issy John on the horse she trains at home, Hurricane Howard (Duggan, Llangunllo) just got the verdict from Wellfield Wally (Bevan, Builth wells) and Rachel Bevan-Thomas while Makemeamillionayr (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) with Ellie Tromans on board was third.

The Dash had a full complement of nine runners with the Novice Greenhill Lillian (Thomas Rhymney) claiming her second win of the day aided by driver Mark Evans, giving him a hat trick of wins, in second was the consistent Turn the Paige (Miles, Merthyr) while Lakeview Meg (Atherton-Rees, Narberth) was third. This win puts Greenhill Lillian into open racing.

The final race of the day was the much anticipated Free For All, Ithon Inmate (Price, Brecon) claimed his third victory in this race with trainer Derek Pritchard at the controls with the inform Rebus (Thomas, Rhymney) in second and Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) in third.

Next weekend’s racing is a demonstration at Kington Show at 1pm on Saturday (September 9) with a full meeting providing a finale to Beulah Show, Saturday September 9th starting at 4pm.

Nursery

1 Brywins Awesome (Lynne Boxhall) owned & trained Hardwick Brecon 2 Evenwood Predator 3 Talavary Activator Time: 2:13.16

Novice – race 1

1 Second Affair (Mark Evans) owned Thomas Rhymney trained Harrison 2 Evenwood Thumps Up 3 My Amazing Grace Time: 2:09.93

Novice – race 2

1 Rhyds Panalulah (Derek Pritchard) owned Gething Ewyas Harold trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 The Chancer 3 Howdya Likemenow & Wellfield Wally Time: 2:10.12

Novice – race 3

1 Greenhill Lillian (Mark Evans) owned & trained Thomas Rhymney 2 Hurricane Howard 3 Jets Girl Time: 2:11.25

Grade B

1 Lakeview Meg (Mathew Tromans) owned & trained Atherton-Rees, Narberth 2 Made in Wales 3 Ayr Ontario Time: 2:45.50

Grade A – race 1

1 Ithon Inmate (Derek Pritchard) owned Price Brecon trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Chinatown Kolt 3 Scoobys Dream Time: 2:45.31

Grade A – race 2

1 Lakeside Pan (Wayne Elder) owned Elder New Quay trained Elder Blaencelyn 2 Rebus 3 Ayr Hero Time: 2:51.72

Baby Novice – race 1

1 Beg for Mercy (Mathew Tromans) owned & trained Tromans Newcastle Emlyn 2 Dernol Yankee 3 Ithon King Time: 2:15.81

Baby Novice – race 2

1 Garth Vader (Andrew Hardwick) owned Williams Brecon trained Hardwick Brecon 2 Bad Romance 3 C U Maggie Time: 2:15.53

Saddle

1 Fold the Notes (Rebecca Williams) owned & trained Perks Presteigne 2 Brywins Jo Jo 3 No Mercy Time: 2:11.50

Junior

1 Hurricane Howard (Issy John) owned Duggan Llangunllo & trained John Llangunllo 2 Wellfield Wally 3 Makemeamillionayr Time: 2:13.79

Dash

1 Greenhill Lillian (Mark Evans) owned & trained Thomas Rhymney 2 Turn the Paige 3 Lakeview Meg Time: 1:38.09

Free For All

1 Ithon Inmate (Derek Pritchard) owned Price Brecon trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Rebus 3 Chinatown Kolt Time: 2:13.75