The thoughts of everyone in the team at Ffos Las are with our founder and former chairman Dai Walters following last week’s helicopter crash. 77-year-old Mr Walters was injured in the accident in North Wales and is (at the time of writing) in intensive care in hospital. Trainer Sam Thomas was also on board the helicopter but escaped without serious injuries.
Mr Walters’ chaser Al Dancer scored a dramatic and poignant victory in the Grand Sefton Chase over the Aintree National fences on Saturday. The gelding, formerly a very promising hurdler, had lost his way in the last couple of seasons. Freshened up, he ran with much more enthusiasm and was in the lead from Becher’s. Wayward jumps to the right at the last two fences gave his pursuers hope, and the lightweight Gesskille closed in on him remorselessly on the 494-yard run-in. The photo revealed that Al Dancer had hung on by a nose.
A frustrating afternoon for Sean Bowen at Aintree ended happily with Gunsight Ridge’s success in a 2m chase. Having his first outing since a wind op, the Olly Murphy-trained favourite had enough in hand to overcome mistakes at the fourth last and the last to win decisively. Earlier Bowen made the running on the market leader Ree Okka in a novice chase, who jumped well at every fence except the final one. That was enough to cost him the race. Riding another favourite an hour later, Brewin’upastorm, the horse jinked at the first hurdle and unseated him.
Doncaster’s meeting on Saturday was the last of the flat season on turf. David Probert rode Something Enticing to win a mile and a quarter fillies’ race for Andrew Balding. She’d finished second in it last year.
The going at Ffos Las on Sunday was soft, verging on heavy by the end of the afternoon.
Alminar was having his first outing for Evan Williams in the 3m chase and he was going the best when Adam Wedge steered him into the lead two out. The result was in no doubt from that point, even though the eventual winning margin was reduced to only three quarters of a length. Alminar is a confirmed stayer and had winning course form and on similar testing going, but the 508 day absence since his last run discouraged punters and he was returned at 8/1.
The 3m hurdle attracted six runners, and Evan Williams supplied three of the horses and two of the jockeys (daughters Isabel and Eleanor) but it was Adam Wedge’s mount Holdbacktheriver that did the best. He finished second, showing his first bit of form for a long time. Carriglux showed a little promise for David and Connor Brace, finishing fourth at 100/1 behind Kilbeg King, the impressive winner of the maiden hurdle.
Finally, the Welsh Horse Racing Awards took place at ICC Wales last week and Sean Bowen took the title of Jump Jockey of the Year with Evan Williams collecting the Jump Trainer of the Year award. Steve and Jackie Fleetham, owners with Peter Bowen, took the National Hunt Breeder of the Year award for their Aintree specialist Mac Tottie. Sam Bailey, who is based with Bridgend trainer John Flint, collected the Stable Staff award.
