CURRE AND LLANGIB HOWICK
19th March 2005
by Liam Hale

Tudor and Williams Trebles it up….

Thick mist covered the course for much of the morning until after the first race and thereafter the sun shone on a glorious day. There looked to be some good horses entered up in both of the opens and a good days racing looked on the cards. Crowd numbers looked down on the last meeting but this was probably due to the Triple Crown decider in the Millenium Stadium that would of attracted many of the devoted Welsh Fans.

The Hunt Members race looked competitive on paper with all five runners having a feasible chance. Barton Bandit (Joshua Harris) led the field for most of the way and attempted to stretch the field but it was Willougby Flyer (James Price) who was always going well and jumped to the lead two out to win easily from the gallant Barton Bandit. The winner of the Hunt members race at the previous meeting Alpine Fugue (Sarah Lewis) ran a little disappointingly in third place after looking promising last time but was never at the races.

The Restricted race was well won by To the Top (James Tudor), the gelding had ran well at the Howick meeting two weeks ago finishing second and went one better today to pull around five lengths clear form the running on Johnsair (Gareth Perkins). To the Top destroyed a strong looking restricted field and looks a horse to keep on the right side of in the future. Johnsair showed its first worthwhile form since its Blackforest Lodge maiden win and can win again this season that goes for third place Whats up Jake who was an unlucky second in a maiden here two weeks ago.

The confined race was won in a canter by the progressive Unmistakably (James Tudor) who justified his odds on price in some style. The ex-Irish Hurdler had finished a head second to the Foxhunters seventh, Just Cliquot, and looked a snip in this race. Unmistakably looks a progressive horse for the Williams team and will be worth following in the coming months, in point to points and possibly back under National Hunt rules.

The Mens open race saw another bloodless victory for the Tudor and Williams’ team where they teamed up with Merry Path, a once four time winner for Oliver Sherwood under rules. The long odds on favourite was prominent throughout and ran on well to record a facile eight length victory from Velmez (Jason Sole). The winner looks to be revitalised by the Williams team and can successfully step up into the Hunter chase field in the near future. This winner secured a treble for James Tudor who is currently looking likely to be Welsh Champion jockey, and a possible outsider for National Champion PtP jockey, if he continues to pair up with Christine Williams team who is now in top form.

The Ladies race went to Laurel Seeker who was given an inspired ride by Fiona Wilson, being well placed early the gelding kicked on with a mile to run hold off all challengers. Laurel seeker was showing his first worthwhile form this season and could continue in the winning thread if ridden similarly in the future. The horse to take from this race could be the Rowsell’s Caxton Star (Lucy Rowsell) who ran well for a long way after three seasons off the track, being prominent for a long way then weakening down the straight.

The first division of the maiden saw another easy winner in Boobee (Jason Cook) who gave Christine Williams a Treble for the day. The lightly raced nine year old jumped to the lead at the ditch and ran on well to score from the consistent Highway Robbery (Dai Jones). The winner looks capable of winning further races whereas Highway Robbery should be capable of winning a small maiden before the end of the season. Third place Kings Euro (William Oakes) looked immature in the paddock and this young horse could be one for the future.

Dai Jones went one better in the concluding maiden on a local horse Miss Man. The eleven-year-old mare was prominent throughout and finished alone after the other runners either capsized or pulled up. First time out Leahy (William Oakes) was the closet pursuer, some twenty lengths down at the second last before pulling up and showed some minimal promise for the future. This truly was the easiest winner of the day!

Ride of The day: Fiona Wilson on Laurel Seeker

Horse to Follow: Unmistakably