​​Wye Doon strikes twice at Amman Valley

​​Wye Doon bagged a winning double as the Wales & Border harness racing action returned to the all-weather track at Amman Valley.

The first races were the Grade B heats, and the opener was predictably won by the in-form duo of Wye Doon and his young trainer Maddy Davies from Orleton. In second place was the consistent Best in Flight (Gale, Gorslas), while Red Cash (Sargeant, Newbridge on Wye) was third.

Evenwood Itchyfeet, with Mathew Tromans in the seat, claimed victory in the second Grade B heat, ahead of Juicy Wiggle (Arrowsmith, Gorslas) with Victoria Penlan (Thomas, Pontypridd) in third.

In the Novice division, the newcomer Matteuceous, from the Gale stable at Gorslas and driven by trainer Dai Arrowsmith, was first past the post, from the ever-reliable Begwyns Trust (Lloyd, Painscastle), while Manhattan Gangster (Munro, Bridgend) was third.

Two Baby Novice races were next on the programme.

In the first, the up and coming Beach Boy, owned by Will Collard from Rhayader, trained at Brecon by Andrew Hardwick

and driven by Ben Flanagan, repeated his last week’s victory. Rhyds Louie (Millard, Stourbridge) took second with the improving Matisse (Hughes, New Radnor) in third.

In the second Baby Novice race, it was Mahogany Debate, driven by Dai Arrowsmith for Tracey Gale from Gorslas, who won, so gaining their ticket into the Novice division. The places were taken by Mahogany Frankie (Munro, Bridgend) and Sonny Camden (Millard, Stourbridge).

The Grade A followed and again the new open horse who has taken the season by storm, World Famous, in the hands of his young trainer Finn Bevan doing the steering for grandfather Mike Bevan from Builth Wells, claimed top spot ahead of last season’s

revelation Hillbilly Jackson, another belonging to the Bevan clan. The talented mare Blue Guns N Roses (Thomas, Pontypridd) was third.

The Nursery was won by novice driver Karen Williams from Penycae, who is beginning to make her mark in the sport driving Dernol Black Satin, with the impressive youngster Platinum Jackson (Bennett, Cwmbach) in second, while Yewtree Habanero (Flanagan, Wimbourne) was third.

The Non Whip race is always popular and attracted a maximum entry, and turned out to be the most competitive race of the afternoon. It was the well-named Sealofapproval, belonging to the Munro family from Bridgend, who claimed a narrow victory driven by young Jimmy Munro. Hillbilly Jackson (Bevan Builth Wells) came home second with the Bevan stablemate Dai’s Silver Talk in third.

The Grade B final completed the day’s racing with the upwardly mobile Wye Doon and Davies again showing their class, to finish at the head of affairs and so earn their promotion into the elite Grade A class.

Maddy is in her first year in adult classes, and has only recently started training for grandmother Amanda Hawkes from Orleton, but has had a sensational start to the season.

In second place was the front-running Best in Flight (Gale,Gorslas), while the improving Evenwood Itchyfeet (Mills, Llanddewi) was third.

Saturday's action the grass on Broadheath Common, Presteigne, starting at 1.30pm.