Friday evening racing proves a hit at Old Radnor (From Hereford Times)

Friday evening racing proves a hit at Old Radnor

8:50am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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RUNNING Old Radnor races on Friday evening, as a prologue to the Welsh weekend of racing at Aberystwyth, turned out to be a big success.

Some wonderful racing with a convivial atmosphere left people reluctant to leave the field long after the last horse had crossed the finishing line.

The finals formed the pinnacle of the day with the Novice providing a photo-finish to get the heart pumping.

Aberelan (Morgan Rhymney) stuck his head out to claim first from Duggans Domino (Gwatkin Evenjobb) while C U Boykin (Hitchcock Haverfordwest) was relegated to third.

The Grade B rewarded the dedication of the Barton family near Clunderwen in Pembrokeshire to their horses, as family-favourite Blackfield Willy was first past the post, with the never-aging Scoot 66 (Bevan Llanddewi) in second and the magnificent Ayr Force One (Haslam, Llanybydder) in third.

With five horses on the gate in the Grade A final, they were bound to dominate the race and it was Meadowbranch Mike (Jones Llanllwni) who gave stable-trainer and driver Debbie Hitchcock a well-deserved double in heat and final. In second was Fold Flight (Perks Presteigne) while Wellfield Xpense (Langford Ludlow) was third.

The season moves on with the televised Severn Valley Races at Caersws on Saturday, starting at 1.30pm.

Nursery – race 1: 1 Fold be Nimble (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Perks Presteigne 2 Ithon Gypsy 3 Freddies Flight Time:2:19.8 Nursery – race 2: 1 Betty Blue (John Peters) owned & trained Peters Upper Longwood 2 Alpine Heights 3Glan Gari Time: 2:29.0 Nursery – race 3: 1 Razzle Dazzle (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Thomas Llanybydder 2 Luck Matters 3 Eve Again Time: 2:22.4 Novice heat 1: 1 Man of the Day( Mathew Herlihy) owned & trained Harries Llanllwni 2 C U Boykin 3 Ithon Express 4 Hasty Flight Time: 2:16.6 Novice – heat 2: 1 East of Eden (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Aberelan 3 Duggans Domino 4 Katie Blue Time: 2:16.9 Grade B - heat 1: 1 Belleheir (Brent Ladek) owned & trained Ladek Cleobury Mortimer 2 Ayr Force One 3 Forgeside Jack Time: 2:17.1 Grade B – heat 2: 1 Bon Beti (Derek Pritchard) owned Evans-Jones Rhymney trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Blackfield Willie 3 Scoot 66 Time: 2:13.9 Grade A – heat 1: 1 Fold Flight (Lorna Perks) owned & trained Perks Presteigne 2 Wellfield Xpense 3 Merrington Man 4 Believe Time:2:14.8 Grade A – heat 2: 1 Meadowbranch Mike (Debbie Hitchcock) owned Jones Llanllwni trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 Ithon Ace 3 Master Tom 4 Mahogany Duke Time:2:13.6 Baby Novice – race 1: 1 Greenhill Raque (Mathew Herlihy) owned & trained Thomas Rhymney 2 Sunnyside Geoff 3 True Grit Time:2:21.5 Baby Novice – race 2: 1 Scarlet Lady (Andrew Bevan) owned & trained Bevan Builth 2 Alpine Heights 3 The Crusader Time: 2:19.9 Baby Novice – race 3: 1 Zip Along (Mathew Herlihy) owned & trained Harries Llanllwni 2 Wellfield Inspired 3 Hilltop W R Time: 2:17.3 Saddle: 1Maple Star (Rebecca Hitchcock) owned Prosser Libanus trained Perks Presteigne 2 Coalford Time 3 Family Circle Time: 2:14.4 Junior: 1Hilltop Flame (Dale Williams) owned & trained Lewis Presteigne 2 Live the Dream (Brian Walters) 3 Boomerang (Daisy Cornes) Time 2:15.8 Novice Final: 1 Aberelan (Andrew Hardwick) owned & trained Morgan Rhymney 2 Duggans Domino 3 C U Boykin Time: 2:15.4 Grade B Final: 1 Blackfield Willie (Robert Barton) owned & trained Barton Clunderwen 2 Scoot 66 3 Ayr Force One Time: 2:14.6 Grade A Final: 1 Meadowbranch Mike (Debbie Hitchcock) owned Jones Llanllwni trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 Fold Flight 3 Wellfield Xpense Time: 2:15.7