Hilltop Greek back to form after injury (From Hereford Times)

Hilltop Greek back to form after injury

8:20am Saturday 4th July 2009 in

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THE ‘Feelgood Factor’ was running high for the Lions Charity harness races under BHRC rules at Allensmore, and the sunshine smiled on a happy crowd.

Glyn Slade-Jones frequently wins awards for his butcher’s shop in Kington, but no accolade can have pleased him more than Hilltop Greek’s return to the winner’s enclosure in the first race. The gelding was returning from a lengthy spell of being sidelined with injury.

It was the right day to be a Price (though none are related), with Brecon-based Gareth Price dead-heating with Presteigne farrier Julian Price for the fastest time of the meeting with Raise A Smile and Devils Best respectively.

Gareth later scored a double with Alan Morris’ Scooby Lou, but Julian was just denied his brace by Macinaminute (David Langford) swooping late to pip Artribute close home.

Zorro (Sarah Mould) was all-out to justify his favouritism in the Grade 2 Mile, unlike the tough Ja Ja Binks who scored comfortably with Wesley Jones. Wesley, who had earlier put up a creditable performance to finish sixth in the Sulky Sprint, professed to be still be breathing harder than his horse.

Mahogany Import (Colin Bevan) returned to form to take the Brian Tucker Memorial, and Ivor Stokle’s Emma’s Pearl seared from a fifty yard trail to snatch the Julie Hardisty Memorial trophy, winning her third race of the season.

Ivor demonstrated that he is as quick between the shafts as behind them in the Charity Sulky Pull Sprint, powering away with Craig Owen, hotly pursued by 15 other couples. Brothers Jed Strickland (Sue Storr) and Nathan Strickland (Victor Lane) took the minor placings in a spirited sibling battle, while Yarkhill schoolgirl, Carly Young took the award for raising the most sponsorship.

Next fixtures: Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5, Aberystwyth (both 1 pm), Sunday, July 12, Allensmore Opportunity meeting 2 pm.

RESULTS NOVICE NON-WINNERS HANDICAP MILE: 1 Hilltop Greek (Glyn Slade-Jones); 2 Wellfield Emily (Sarah Mould); 3 Blythe View Billy (Erica Brian) 2:13.2. 1/2L, 2L. Owned & trained by Peter Lloyd, Kington.

NON WINNERS HANDICAP MILE. GRADE 4+: =1 Raise A Smile (Gareth Price) & Devil’s Best (Julian Price); 3 Young Man (Sarah Mould). 2:9.0. Dead heat, 2L. Raise A Smile Owned & trained by Gareth Price, Brecon. Devil’s Best owned by Julian Price, trained by Julie Price, Presteigne.

MAIDEN MILE (GRADE 0): 1 Duggans Cherished (Lee Price); 2 Wellfield Jemima (Sarah Mould); 3 Garth’s Dream (Gareth Price). 2:10.1. 4L, 3L. Owned & trained by Lee Price, Builth Wells.

GRADE 1 MILE ( NOVICE): 1 Macinaminute (David Langford);2 Artribute (Julian Price); 3 Bon Robert (Lee Price). 2:12.8. 1/2L, 1/2L. owned By A.A Jones, trained by Helen Langford, Pontardawe.

MAIDEN MILE (GRADE 0): 1 Scooby Lou (Gareth Price); 2 Immortal Best of All (Jed Strickland); 3 Worthy Bach (Joss Edwards). 2:14.1 1L, 11/2L. Owned & trained by Alan Morris.

GRADE 2 MILE (IMPROVER): 1 Zorro (Sarah Mould); 2 Best Of The Fleet (Joss Edwards); 3 Meet N’Greet (David Bevan). 2:10.9. 1/2L, 11/2L. Owned & trained by Lyn Mould, Staffordshire.

SULKY SPRINT (200 yds): 1 Ivor Stokle (Craig Owen); 2 Jed Strickland (Sue Storr); 3 Nathan Strickland (Victor Lane) 27.5. 2L, 1L. Prize for the most sponsorship: Carly Young GRADE 3 MILE (INTERMEDIATE): 1 Ja Ja Binks (Wesley Jones); 10 yds; 2 Not So Hasty (Joss Edwards); 3 Vyrnwy Fantasy (Chris Heaton) 10 yds. 2:10.9. 3L, 5L. Owned by Wesley Jones & Jackie Maguire, trained by Wesley Jones, Sennybridge.

HANDICAP MILE. GRADE 4+: 1 Mahogany Import (Colin Bevan); 2 Disturbin' (Kelly Rushton) 10 yds; 3 No Mercy (Sue Young). 2:9.6. 11/2L, head. Owned by Mahogany Stables, trained by Henry Bulman. Tregaron.

MEMBERS HANDICAP MILE: 1 Emma’s Pearl (Ivor Stokle) 50 yds; 2 Loden Scoot (Colin Bevan) 10 yds; 3 Immortal Best Of All (Jed Strickland). 2:12.6, 2L, 1/2L. Owned & trained by Ivor Stokle, Brockworth.

Marshfield Harness Racing Club Bonus for fastest time of the meeting: =1 Raise A Smile & Devil's Best.