03 March 2010 Preview: Brecon & Talybont - Llanfrynach
by Brian Lee
CHESNUT ANNIE: back Pointing after her magnificent Ffos Las win
photo: Alun Sedgmore
All eyes will be on Beth Roberts's prolific Point-to-Pointer Chesnut Annie when she lines up for the Ladies Open race at Llanfrynach on Saturday.
Chesnut Annie recently won Wales' richest ever Hunter Chase - the Dunraven Foxhunters at
Ffos Las - and she is the most popular Pointer in the Principality since Mandryka, a winner of 38 Ladies Opens, five Mens Opens and a Hunter Chase, graced the scene in the 1970s.
There are 14 down to run in this race and these include Neophyte who was runner-up to Chesnut Annie last year. However, this time it might be Honest Endeavour who follows her home.
Catherine Rhead's Warsaw Pact, a winner of his only two races this season, is one of the twelve horses entered in the Mens open won last year by Cannon Bridge. Also entered is Micks Prospect, who won three of his four races last season, and David Evans's Makena who landed the Mens Open at the Carmarthenshire last week.
Of the 13 entries for the Confined the grey Silver Story, a winner of a division of the Restricted here last year, makes most appeal and should win in the absence of stable companion Kings Euro who is also entered in the Mens Open.
Some enthusiasts will look no further than Princesse De Rome in the 26 strong Restricted race. This six-year-old mare, who got home by three parts of a length from Bunny McDougall at the Carmarthenshire, looks open to improvement and may be hard to beat.
The open maiden race has been divided with 21 down to run in each division. In division one it might pay to keep an eye on Gorba, who was made favourite in Princesse De Rome's race, only to pull up in the closing stages. Leprechaun's Gold is another to consider.
An interesting entry in division two is Master Charm, a five-year-old bay gelding and a former inmate of Welshman Carl Llewellyn's yard, who has been described as "a tall, useful looking gelding'' by Chasers & Hurdlers. For those looking for one which will start at much longer odds, then Copper Carroll, a stablemate of Chesnut Annie, could give them a run for their money.
