Don Bobby stars in latest Wales & Border Harness Racing action

Don Bobby shone in the sun as Presteigne hosted the latest Wales & Border Harness Racing action.

The Novice class kicked things off and Don Bobby, driven and trained by Lynne Boxhall for Carolyn Rowlands from Nantmel, came home first in front of Matteuceous (Gale, Gorslas) and Begwyns Trust (Lloyd, Painscastle).

In the second heat, Hannibal, driven by Mathew Tromans, made light of his 20-yard handicap to win for the Weigel family from Llanddewi Velfrey. Second place went to Dai’s Silver Talk (Bevan, Builth) with Full Closure (Bevan, Llanddewi) in third.

In the first of the Grade B heats, Andrew Hardwick steered Evenwood Itchyfeet (Mills, Llanddewi) to victory in front of Victoria Penlan (Thomas, Pontypridd), while Alibis Dream (Lloyd, Gladestry) was third.

Stateside Icon, driven by Lee Price for the Weigel family, triumphed in the second B heat. Fold Fearless (Perks, Presteigne) was second on his seasonal debut, while the reliable Sealofapproval (Munro, Bridgend) took third.

The Grade A races are improving week on week, with the latest offering serving up a tremendous battle.

Wye Doon, now promoted to the top tier of racing, and trainer/driver Maddy Davies claimed victory for owner Amanda Hawkes from Orleton. Fold Megastar (Perks, Presteigne) a close second with World Famous (Bevan, Builth) completing the top three following a tremendous late surge.

The first Baby Novice saw Rhyds Louie, driven by Kevin Young for keen supporter Danny Millard from Stourbridge, secure a deserved win. Beach Boy (Collard,Rhayader) followed across the line in second place with Isolation (Collingwood, Huntington) in third.

Another Midlands horse triumphed in the second Baby Novice as Liz George piloted Millstream Art to win for Davy Chan from Leicester.

Dernol Lucky Strike (Gale, Gorslas) crossed in second with Mahogany Frankie (Munro, Bridgend) taking third place.

Both Rhyds Louie and Millstream Art now progress into the Novice division.

After the break, the racing resumed with the Nursery, which is for the young horses just making their way into the sport.

Platinum Jackson (Bennett, Cwmbach) has been improving week on week and ran a good race to win from Landafew (Rowlands, Nantmel), while newcomer Adoronron (Williams, Pencader) was third.

The Consolation is always a popular race, where horses have a second chance to claim glory, and this week it was the talented Blue Guns N Roses (Thomas, Pontypridd) who took the honours from Oakwood Ideal (Bowen, Llanbister), while Goodtime Hal (Lloyd, Gladestry) was third.

The Non Whip is another special race and provided one of the closest finishes of the day, with two top Grade A horses just inches apart going over the line.

Perhaps the experience of Andrew Bevan from Builth Wells, driving his Hillbilly Jackson helped to judge the finish to perfection, ahead of Maddy Davies and her superlative Wye Doon (Hawkes, Orleton). The talented Zulu Warrior (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) round off the top three.

The Novice Final saw the up and coming youngster Don Bobby and Boxhall run an exceptional race to claim their second win of the day. Dai’s Silver Talk (Bevan, Builth) was second and Hannibal (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) third.

The day’s racing finished with the Grade B Final, which was another exciting encounter.

The impressive Fold Fearless (Perks, Presteigne) lived up to his name, to win under a strong drive by Tromans, In second was Stateside Icon (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey), while Evenwood Itchyfeet (Mills, Llanddewi) took third.

This Saturday's action is the traditional Presteigne race meeting, organised by the local committee which has staged racing since before World War II.

The action at Broadheath Common starts at 1.30pm.