Micky's Pembrokeshire
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South Pembrokeshire Hunt Lydstep Races:
Stand – in Tudor takes four winning rides
Both racing enthusiasts and holiday makers came in their droves to attend the popular South Pembrokeshire Point to Point races at Lydstep on Easter Monday, where there was some terrific racing to enjoy.
The hunt committee had made a superb effort in watering the course, using in excess of 200,000 gallons, to ensure perfect racing ground which in turn resulted in a good number of runners and very competitive races.
Huge winning margins for Tudor ....
James Tudor, standing in for the injured John Mathias, took the riding honours, enjoying four winners. The first was the Kristal Harris-trained ‘Udeman’ (2m4f Open Maiden), then David Llewellyn ‘s ‘Rosies Peacock’ ( Mens Open) who was winning for the fourth time at the Lydstep course, and followed by the Dai Rees-owned and trained duo ‘Two Shook Men’( 3 mile Open Maiden) and ‘Saint Peray’ ( Intermediate).
Despite James being a previous National Point to Point champion, it’s doubtful he has ever had four such impressive winners to ride in one day. The smallest winning margin of his four was by ten lengths, the other three all recorded 20 lengths-plus wins.
... And a tumble too!
The day did not go all Tudor’s way, however, because despite being sent off odds-on favourite by the betting public in the opening Hunt members race aboard ‘Lydstep Hills’, an unusual mistake from the ‘Beat All’ gelding saw the partnership hit the deck two from home, Bradley Gibbs and ‘Sir Monty’, who were in close attendance at the time, then only had to ensure a safe jump at the last to win by a distance from Paul Goldsworthy on ‘Stafford Prince’.
Purple patch for Pembrokeshire
Six of the day’s seven races were won by horses hailing from the county of Pembrokeshire, highlighting a real purple patch the county is enjoying in the sport. Dai Brace’s ‘Doctor Tom’ was the only South Wales winner, when following up a maiden win at the Monmouthshire last time out with a front running display that galloped his rivals into submission in the concluding race of the day, the ‘Restricted’ Race.
Emotional win – and a
special mention for Dai
The ‘Ladies’ Open race proved an emotional win for Laugharne-based Lucy Pearce-Rowsell on ‘Baron de Doc’, owned and trained by close friend Charlotte Owen. Lucy’s father Keith suffered a heart attack on Easter Saturday, which sees him currently an in-patient at West Wales General Hospital, where news was re-laid to him via telephone of the win. Everyone wishes him well in his recovery.
Pearce-Rowsell’s brother in law Dai Jones also graced the winner’s podium - but for a very different reason. The Carmarthen-based jockey, at the age of 47, and the winner of 226 races, has made the decision to retire from race riding due to hindrance from an old racing injury. It was an occasion that could not go by without being recognised, said commentator Eddie Williams, who has called Dai home on many occasions over the past 30 years, and had great pleasure in making a presentation to the popular jockey.
PHOTOS:
Lucy Pearce-Rowsell on 'Baron de Doc' just holds off Lucy Jones on 'Fruitful'.
James Tudor & 'Rosie's Peacock' ride home unopposed.
Pictures kindly supplied by Alun Sedgmore of Sporting Prints.
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