Synod Inn races on May Bank holiday Monday are the first of the season in Ceredigion and although the day was cold the weather was fine and the racing was exhilarating. Commentator Ritchie Evans took the microphone for the first time at a Wales & Borders meeting, and he looks to be settling well into the job.

Three nursery races which are the first step on the ladder for young horses prove the future looks positive with plenty of young entrants into the sport. The three winners were Briwyns Snowflake (Weigel Llanddewi Velfry) Classic Man (Langford Pontardawe) and Glan Levit (Evans, Talgarreg) all look set to establish themselves this season.

The Novice heats were the first competitive races when the Hitchcock, Haverfordwest youngster C U Boykin notched up a good victory from East of Eden (Pritchard Rhosgoch) and Sam the Man (Tromans Newcastle Emlyn). In the second heat Ithon Eagle continued in winning ways for his owner Terry edwards from Bromfield beating Hasty Flight (Williams Llanafan) and Red Adair (Harries Merthyr).

The grade B was a straight race with lightly raced Forgeside Jack (Walker Gwernogle) making a big impression with the 'crafty cardi' Ian Isaac on board while Chinatown Maori (Jones Llanllwni) was second and Family Circle (Barton Clunderwen) was third.

The first heat of the Grade A produced a well earned win for Ithon Ace (Williams, Shrewsbury) Shermanator Sam (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) was second and Mahogany Duke (Edmunds Porthcawl) this week driven by Neil Edmunds who has been the race commentator for the early season was third. In fourth place was Vodka Express (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey). Wellfield Xpense (Langford Ludlow) took the second heat with Wayne Knox in the seat beating Meadowbranch Mike (Jones, Llanllwni) and Bon Bethan (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) with the diminutive Fold Flight (Perks, Presteigne) in fourth.

Glan Minstrel gave local owner Danny Jones from Talgarreg a thrilling win in the first of the Baby Novice races with Sunnyside Geoff (Clarke Brecon) and True Grit (Thomas, Tregroes) claiming the places. In the second Baby Novice race another 'Cardi' horse took top honours as Man of the Day (Harris, Llanllwni) won ahead of back marker Ynyston Tommy (Isaac, Ystrad Meurig) and Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch).

There may have only been four horses in the Free For All but they were all top class, and it proved a fascinating race as they battled for supremacy, over the line the verdict went to Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Williams, Llanafan) with Purple Rain (Edwards Bromfield) second and Live the Dream (Langford, Pontardawe) third.

Although lady drivers are well able to take on the men sometimes they are given their own races and on this occasion it was leading lady driver Louisa Myers who driving her friend's Family Circle (Barton, Clunderwen) took top honours with Chinatown Maori (Debbie Hitchcock) in second and Maple Star (Bethan Perks) third.

Wellfield Inspired (Griffiths, Pontardawe) won the consolation with Wayne Knox in the driving seat.

The Novice final was the next race on the card with Ithon Eagle (Edwards, Bromfield) repeating his heat win for the in form driver Wayne Knox with Hasty Flight (Williams, Llanafan) in second and Red Adair (Harries, Merthyr) third.

The Grade A provided the ideal finale to the day's racing with another exciting race. It looked as if the Shrewsbury horse Ithon Ace was likely to provide a double for his enthusiastic connections, but rounding the paddock corner for the second time he made a mistake, lost his stride and despite all Steve's efforts the race was lost. It was Vodka Express (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) who claimed a good victory from heat winner Wellfield Xpense (Langford Ludlow) and Shermanator Sam (Tromans Newcastle Emlyn).

Nursery

Race 1
1 Briwyns Snowflake (Horst Weigel) owned & trained Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Zip Along 3 Glan Dancer Time: 2.28.82
Nursery - race 2
1 Classic Man (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Langford Ammanford 2 Greenhill Raque, Abernant Time: 2.24.63
Nursery - race 3
1 Glan Levit (Andrew Hardwick) owned Evans Talgarreg trained Hardwick Brecon 2 Fold American 3 Eve Again Time: 2.26.03
Novice - heat 1
1 C U Boykin (Debbie Hitchcock) owned & trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 East of Eden 3 Sam the Man 4 Aberelan Time: 2.27.62
Novice - heat 2
1 Ithon Eagle (Wayne Knox) owned Edwards Bromfield trained Langford Ludlow 2 Hasty Flight 3 Red Adair 4 Coalford Time Time: 2.26.22
Grade B
1 Forgeside Jack (Ian Isaacs) owned & trained Walker Gwernogle 2 Chinatown Maori 3 Family Circle Time: 2.22.28
Grade A - heat 1
1 Ithon Ace (Stephen Williams) owned & trained Williams Shrewsbury 2 Shermanator Sam 3 Mahogany Duke 4 Vodka Express Time: 2.19.51
Grade A - heat 2
1 Wellfield Xpense (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Langford Ludlow 2 Meadowbranch Mike 3 Bon Bethan 4 Fold Flight Time: 2.23.60
Baby Novice - race 1
1 Glan Minstrel (Derek Prithcard) owned Jones Talgarreg trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Sunnyside Geoff 3 True Grit Time: 2.25.03
Baby Novice - race 2
1 Man of the Day (Mathew Herlihy) owned & trained Harries Llanllwni 2 Ynyston Tommy 3 Saunders Playboy Time: 2.23.63
Free For All
1 Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Williams Llanafan 2 Purple Rain 3 Live the Dream Time: 2.18.88
Ladies Race
1 Family Circle (Louisa Myers) owned & trained Barton Clunderwen 2 Chinatown Maori 3 Maple Star Time: 2.25.97
Consolation
1 Wellfield Inspired (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Griffiths, Pontardawe 2 Highbrooks Teebeau 3 Sandside Cash Time: 2.27.34
Novice final
1 Ithon Eagle (Wayne Knox) owned Edwards, Bromfield trained Langford Ludlow 2 Hasty Flight 3 Red Adair Time: 2.27.19
Grade A final
1 Vodka Express (Horst Weigel) owned & trained Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Wellfield Xpense 3 Shermanator Sam Time: 2.22.12

Report written by Maureen Lloyd