Penybont track conjures up memories of races past

There is something special about the track at Penybont, it conjures up so many memories of races in the past, writes Maureen Lloyd.

It identifies with the heritage of Wales and Border Harness Racing, and produces its unique atmosphere.

This week it was the Llandrindod committee organising the event, and there are always slight differences from the meeting three weeks ago.

However, the racing was superb, fast and furious, providing wonderful entertainment.

The afternoon began with the Novice heats, these as competitive as ever, as horses aim to qualify for open racing.

Mahogany Frankie, driven by owner-trainer Jimmy Munro from Bridgend, took the first heat from upwardly-mobile Glenfield Thomas (Billington, Leicester).

The Munro stable won a back-to-back double when Manhattan Gangster took the second novice heat, this time driven by friend Morgan Wolfe.

In the first Grade B heat Lucifer, driven by Lee Price for Robin Lloyd from Painscastle, won ahead of Don Bobby (Rowlands, Nantmel).

Blazing Eagle added to his perfect record in the second heat with young driver Finn Bevan, driving for grandfather Mike Bevan, from Builth.

The Grade A heats were very close affairs, with Fold Megastar driven by Mathew Tromans for the Perks family from Presteigne taking top honours in the first Grade A heat from the front-running Blue Guns N Roses (Thomas, Pontypridd).

World Famous added to his tally in the second A heat with young trainer Finn Bevan at the controls for grandad Mike Bevan from Builth.

In the Baby Novice, Dragoon - owned, trained and driven by Shane Eggerton - took the top honours ahead of the consistent Isolation (Collingwood, Huntington).

Local specialist Ontop Shouda Cuda and owner-trainer-rider Jayne Bevan gave a masterclass demonstration of saddle racing, to add to his impeccable saddle record this season, much to the delight of the home crowd.

The dash was the next race on the card, with Jason Munro from Bridgend taking top honours at the helm of the family-owned Sealofapproval.

In the Novice Final, Finn Bevan from Builth Wells was again in the driving seat when he partnered his cousin’s Dai’s Silver Talk (Bevan, Builth Wells) to victory, so giving him a ticket into open racing.

In the Grade B Final, the indomitable Blazing Eagle with Finn Bevan from Builth provided another win for the team ahead of Lucifer (Lloyd, Painscastle), with Evenwood Itchyfeet (Mills, Llanddewi) in third. This back-to-back double completed Finn’s four wins on the day.

The Grade A Final provided a battle between the Perks family stablemates from Presteigne, with Fold Megastar, driven by usual companion Mathew Tromans, taking advantage of his 20-yard advantage in the handicap over fellow rival Fold Fearless.

The final race of the day was the mile and a half, won by the reliable stayer Begwyns Trust, driven by Lee Price for Robin Lloyd from Painscastle.

The Bank Holiday Monday fixture at Ammanford starts at 1.30pm.