"Llandrindod Wells committee hosted the final classic meeting of the season at the Penybont track, on Bank Holiday Monday. Drizzle in the early afternoon made conditions difficult especially for the inexperienced horses. However after a little track renovation the races proceeded with plenty of close finishes to keep the cameraman busy.

The two nursery races were won by the now relatively experienced Greenhill Megan (Thomas Rhymney) and Annie Blue (Peters Welshpool) with no major difficulties to signify the problems which would beset the next Baby Novice race.

The first Baby Novice saw Luck Matters slip on the famous 'blacksmith bend' so necessitating a restart. The restart took place after running the second Baby Novice and this time it was Golden Nugget that caused a problem with Wayne Knox on Classic Man being somersaulted over the top.

The race eventually took place after the heats and it was a case of third time lucky for Llangurig farmer Edward Wozencraft as he and Ithon Artist just held off Greenhill Raque (Thomas Rhymney) with Ystwyth Gwynfor (Jones Church Stretton) in third. In the other Baby Novice owner Robin Lloyd from Painscastle put younger brother Stephen to pilot his sometimes temperamental mare Seren Penlan, the plan worked as they came home ahead of Saunders Playboy (Pritchard, Rhosgoch) and Clares Own (Evans Newcastle Emlyn).

The Grade A heats were the next races to be run with the first giving the little chestnut mare Believe (Pritchard Rhosgoch) an emphatic win beating Bon Bethan (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) and Ithon Ace (Williams, Shrewsbury). In the second heat Merrinton Man (Thomas Rhymney) ran another cracking race to finish in front of Purple Rain (Edwards Bromfield) and Forgeside Jack (Walker, Gwernogle). Vodka Express (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) took the top honours in the final heat followed home by Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Williams, Llanafan) and Mahogany Duke (Edmunds Porthcawl).

Abernant (Greenway, Hardwick, Brecon) took the first Novice heat in fine style driven by Mark Evans from Brecon with Debbie Hitchcock from Haverfordwest on her own horse C U Boykin in second and Fold American (Perks Presteigne) in third.

Serenity (Jones Llanllwni) scored an impressive win in the second heat followed home by Sunnyside Geoff (Clarke Brecon) and The Red Devil (Greenway Michaelchurch Eskley). Ithon Express (Bevan Builth) was first past the winning post in the third heat ahead of Duggans Dominoe (Gwatkin Evenjobb) and Sandside Cash (Elder New Quay).

This week the Grade B was a straight race, and Herefordshire horseman Steve Flook replaced the injured Wayne Knox on the sulky behind Maple Star (Prosser Libanus). But the mare had no complaints as she sped to the front in the back straight and although My Immortal (Evans Brecon) did his best to catch her, it was not to be, while Chinatown Maori (Jones, Llanllwni) was in third.

Jayne Bevan from Llanddewi is the most experienced saddle jockey in trotting, but this year has not dominated as sometimes in the past, however when she partnered the old warrior Scoot 66 this week, they showed neither had lost their appetite to win as they held off all opposition, being followed home by Vyrnwy Chef (Barton Clunderwen) and back marker Mahogany Duke (Edmunds Porthcawl).

The Novice final was the next on the card in which Serenity (Jones Llanllwni) and driver Debbie Hitchcock slipped their field up the back straight and could not be caught despite the gallant efforts of Abernant (Greenway & Hardwick Brecon) with Duggans Dominoe (Gwatkin Evenjobb) in third.

The Grade A final lived up to its billing as the best race of the day, with the little chestnut mare Believe defying all comers to bring home the glory for her owner, trainer and driver Derek Pritchard from Rhosgoch. In second was the well fancied Merrington Man (Thomas Rhymney) while the beautiful black mare Bon Bethan (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) was third.

As the last race came to a conclusion the heavens opened and so ended a difficult day but one in which the racing was a triumph.

Nursery - race 1

1 Greenhill Megan (Andrew Hardwick) owned & trained Thomas Rhymney 2 Little Man II 3 Betty blue Time: 2:55.28

Nursery - race 2

1 Annie Blue (Alan Peters) owned & trained Peters Welshpool 2 Fold Eventful 3 Merefield Jack Time¨3.00

Baby Novice - race 1

1 Ithon Artist (Edward Wozencraft) owned & trained Wozencraft Llangurig 2 Greenhill Raque 3 Ystwyth Gwynfor Time: 2:43.56

Baby Novice - race 2

1 Seren Penlan (Stephen Lloyd) owned & trained R Lloyd Painscastle 2 Saunders Playboy 3 Clares Own Time: 2:43.02

Grade A - heat 1

1 Believe (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Bon Bethan 3 Ithon Ace Time: 2:34.44

Grade A - heat 2

1 Merrington Man (Mark Evans) owned & trained Thomas Rhymney 2 Purple Rain 3 Forgeside Jack Time:2:33.84

Grade A - heat 3

1 Vodka Express (Horst Weigel) owned & trained Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Obi-Wan-Kenobi 3 Mahogany Duke Time:2:34.32

Novice - heat 1

1 Abernant (Mark Evans) owned & trained Hardwick & Greenway, Brecon 2 C U Boykin 3 Fold American Time:2:37.35

Novice - heat 2

1 Serenity (Debbie Hitchcock) owned Jones Llanllwni trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 Sunnyside Geoff 3 The Red Devil Time: 2:40.52

Novice - heat 3

1 Ithon Express (Gareth Bevan) owned & trained Bevan Builth 2 Duggans Dominoe 3 Sandside Cash Time: 2:41

Grade B

1 Maple Star (Steve Flook) owned Prosser Libanus trained Perks Presteigne 2 My Immortal 3 Chinatown Maori Time: 2:34.76

Saddle

1 Scoot 66 (Jayne Bevan) owned & trained Bevan Llanddewi 2 Vyrnwy Chef 3 Mahogany Duke Time: 2:40.66

Novice final

1 Serenity (Debbie Hitchcock) owned Jones Llanllwni trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 Abernant 3 Duggans Domino Time: 2:37.43

Grade A final

1 Believe (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Merrington man 3 Bon Bethan Time: 2:35.67