Last night at Tir Prince the weather gods shone on us again because at 5 o’clock the drizzle stopped and almost miraculously the sun came out and cleared all the grey clouds away. The large family crowd were able to bask in the warm sunshine in shirt sleeves.
The racing lived up to expectations with Mick Lord and Jason Podmore both having good nights. In the first race a 12 horse maiden race the draw was kind to Mick driving Desert Storm and from position 1 bossed the race and won comfortably from Jason on Lightening Blue who just held off Joss Edwards on Worthy Bach by a neck.
In the two year old race Jason was very impressive on Rudd Hannover beating Vicky Gill on Rhyds Ponder into second. In the trot John Richardson won very comfortably on Jack OG Lobell and looks a good bet for next weeks Roosevelt shield, Paul Mather jnr on Piri Piri just held off John Towe on UFO Apache for second place.
The 12 horse grade 0 to grade 2 race was a cracker with local trainer/drivers Jim Mcinally and Mark Elvin on Catscam and Ayr Mission crossing the line in a rare dead heat in a very impressive time of 2.018 both from the 10 yard line, Romaine Pearson was only 2 lengths back in third on Caenwood Rhapsody.
Next came the eagerly awaited 3 year old Derby heats over 1 and a half miles, unfortunately the heats were decimated by injury and cock ups over paperwork now is the time to simplify the entry procedure and introduce clearer communication between the office and the owner/trainers. The draw was made and the first heat included Coalford Potter drawn one, Boat Toy, Celebrity Tango and Shane’s Baby in position two, three and four. In the end nobody could live with Megan Taff on Boat Toy winning by 11 lengths from Georgina Nicholson on Coalford Potter who held off John Richardson on Celebrity Tango by a further 2 lengths. In the eagerly awaited second heat we had last years top 2 year old Rhyds Destiny, Musselburgh winner Check on Jack and the in form Roddy Hannover and Majestic Rosa. This was a more interesting race with Rocker going to the front early on driving Check on Jack, closely followed by Mick Lord on Rhyds Destiny and Gary Clarke on Roddy Hannover. Coming round the last bend into the straight it looked as if Mick and Gary would catch Rocker but with an impressive turn of speed Rocker put his foot on the gas and this wonderful three year old responded immediately and put 5 lenghts between fast finishing Rhyds Destiny, the time was a quick 3.062. “Rocker” keeps rollin’ on and it will take a very good horse to beat it next week in the final.
The final race was a very competitive 1 mile handicap and this time Mick Lord on the classy Howards Contender just held off Jason Podmore on Mach Little with Megan Taff on Ynys Mari in third, the winning time of 2.011 off 10 yards in the cool late evening was very respectable.
Now we can’t wait for next Monday 27th July in what looks like a mouth watering nights racing. We are looking forward to seeing Laneside Lexus line up in the PFA Crock of Gold heat, the Derby final, can anyone stop Need for Run in the Roosevelt Cup will the trot record be broken? There is the Welsh Cup heat and a £1000 one mile preferred free for all for some really good top class pacers. There is bound to be a large crowd so get there early!