08 May 2008 Brecon & Talybont - Llanfrynach
Iris's Prince: needs some give in the ground to take his chance in the Men's Open
The rearranged Brecon & Talybont fixture at Llanfrynach on Saturday has attracted 155 entries.
Racing gets under way at 2pm with the Members' race and of the nine entries Ian Pritchard has entered two and one of them - Windy Spirit- is top rated. This former inmate of Evan Williams's Vale of Glamorgan yard won earlier in the season at odds of 20-1 with Ian's young son David in the saddle, and he has a great chance this time of notching-up his second winner. The Richard Mathias trained El Higueron has little form, but in a race of this kind could give Windy Spirit a run for his money.
There are 18 down to run in the Confined and these include Edna Hussey's Bob Bites Back and Jack Rowsell's Bits And Bobs, first and second respectively at the Banwen Miners meeting last Monday. However, Beth Roberts's Twilight Dancer, who ran so well when finishing second to Iris's Prince at the Tredegar Farmers last Sunday, will be hard to beat. If there is to be a shock winner than it could come in the form of the ex-Irish mare, Lagan Love, who seems certain to be one of the 33-1 others.
There will have to be some give in the ground for Iris's Prince to line-up for the Men's Open. Of the other 23 entries Little Ed, Adventurist and Sporting Hero look best.
The Ladies' Open has also attracted 24 entries, and Simon Jones's Dancing Credit, Lee Bridge's Lunar Crystal, William and Angela Rucker's Royal Katidoki, and Beverley Thomas's Banwen Ladies' Open winner Seaniethesmuggler, are just four with strong claims. Beverley's horses are now in fine fettle and whichever ones she decides to run on Saturday should go well.
There are 38 entries for the Restricted and Knight Of The Road, a faller at the second fence at the Banwen last Monday, can make amends. Others of note are recent winners Kingaroy Lass, Minella Bogs and Plums And Apples.
The Open Maiden race will be run in two divisions of 21 and Agent Hogan can take the first, and Alaskan Dream the second.
