WHILE most of the rest of the country suffered violent thunderstorms, the Allensmore circuit somehow missed the wrath of nature on Sunday afternoon and a happy crowd enjoyed nine races under BHRC rules.

Glasbury trainer Dick Price sent out his first double of the year from Radnor Stables.

Highbrooks Cobra fought back doggedly with Mark Pritchard to pip the favourite Quality Time (Jason Podmore) in a mile event and then, in the dramatic saddle race, Rebelwood cruised clear of the brave Hilton's GP (Stella Havard) in the sympathetic hands of Julian Price.

The race had to be re-run following the hair-raising fall of the handsome Free Contender with Julie Bevan, but luckily both emerged un-scathed.

Bevan had an equally bloodless victory on the sulky seat when the impressive Fold Flight flew home like Concorde in a division of the maiden event. Mark Pritchard also went on to finally land his brace in the feature mile-and-a-quarter race, having two narrow defeats in the interim. Nigel and Debbie Lewis' Cassini Venture just held I Am The Man (Sara Mould) in a rousing finish with the energetic Highbrooks Cobra (Gareth Price) in third.

North Wales raider Steve Lees fielded a trio of American-bred hotpots and landed two divisions of the maiden with Lyons Card Shark and Magical Katie. But Lyons Luck had no answer to Fold Flight's dominance and had to settle for second.

Angie Dyer and Joanne Taff flew the flag for the women with narrow triumphs with Donnist-horpe Lucky and Blackmail respectively.

Next fixture: Leominster Sunday, May 25, 2pm.

RESULTS

Going: Good.

Open Handicap Mile: 1 Blackmail (Joanne Taff); 2 Goldwood (Mark Pritchard); 3 I Am The Man (Sara Mould). 2:16.4. 1 L, L. 6 ran. Owned and trained by Joanne Taff, Cannock.

Open Handicap Mile (handicap reduced by 10 yds): 1 Highbrooks Cobra (Mark Pritchard); 2 Quality Time (Jason Podmore); 3 JJ Jules (Terry Laventure). 2:14.0. Short hd. 2 L. 6 ran. Owned by Steve Jones, trained by Radnor Racing Stables, Glasbury.

Maiden Mile, Div 1: 1 Lyons Card Shark (Steve Lees); 2 Radnor Beauty (Mark Pritchard); 3 Symlog Derryn Ddu (Patrick Morris). 2:16.1. 1 L, 2 L. 6 ran. Owned by Geoff Mound, trained by Steve Lees, St Asaph.

Div 2: 1 Fold Flight (Julian Price); 2 Lyons Luck (Steve Lees); 3 Villain (Jason Podmore). 2:13.6. 6 L, 7 L. 8 ran. Owned by Mrs J Perks, trained by Julie Price, Presteigne.

Div 3: 1 Magical Kate (Steve Lees); 2 Briwyn's Starlight (Brian Davies); 3 Vynwy Chef (David Bevan). 2:22.2. 3 L, 1 L. 6 ran. Owned by Peter Harland, trained by Steve Lees, St. Asaph.

Novice/Improver Mile: 1 Newtown Shine (Terry Laventure); 2 Symlog Strawberry (Patrick Morris); 3 Gone West (Gareth Price). 2:14.4. L, 6 L. 9 ran. Owned by Roy Sheedy, trained by Terry Laventure, Chepstow.

Improver/Intermediate Mile: 1 Donnisthorpe Lucky (Angela Dyer); 2 Biotal Beth (Richard Owens); 3 Michelle's Jackpot (John Wright) 10 yds. 2:16.4. Neck, 1 L. 7 ran. Owned and trained by Peter Dyer, Cardiff.

Saddle Race Mile: 1 Rebelwood (Julian Price) 40 yds; 2 Hilton's GP (Stella Havard). Only 2 finished.2:24.4. A distance. 3 ran. Owned by Dick Price, trained by Radnor Stables, Glasbury.

Stan Price Memorial Mile-and-a-quarter Pace: 1 Cassini Venture (Mark Pritchard) 10 yds; 2 I Am The Man (Sara Mould); 3 Highbrooks Cobra (Gareth Price). 2:46.5. L, 5 L. 5 ran. Owned by Nigel and Debbie Lewis, trained by Mark Pritchard, Boughrood.