"Talgarreg races held on the Synod Inn track in Ceredigion provide the first classic meeting of the season with £1000 on offer for the winner of the Grade A final. The track was in perfect condition and the long final straight favours a strong finishing horse and there were many of these to test the judges yet again. The weather was cool but dry, in fact perfect conditions for racing.

The Nursery races gave local horses Clare's Own (Evans, Newcastle Emlyn) and Razzle Dazzle (Thomas Llanybydder) their first taste of success as they prepare to take on the punters.

As usual the Novice heats start the racing programme with My Immortal (Evans Brecon) running his usual impressive race to secure victory from East of Eden (Pritchard Rhosgoch) and C U Boykin (Hitchcock Haverfordwest). In the second heat the Builth horse Ithon Express with his young owner Gareth Bevan in the seat led the way home from Glan Master (Price Guilsfield) and Man of the Day (Harries Llanllwni).

In the first heat of the Grade B Blackfield Willy (Barton Clunderwen) was first past the post from the speedy Maple Star (Prosser Libanus) with the grey Ayr Force One (Haslam Llanybydder). Classic Day (Miles Merthyr) on her first run in the Grade B looked an easy winner of the second heat with Bon Beti (Evans-Jones Rhymney) in second and Family Circle (Barton Clunderwen) in third.

Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Williams Llanafan) swept to victory in the first heat of the Grade A followed over the line by Shermanator Sam (Tromans Newcastle Emlyn) with Wellfield Xpense (Langford Ludlow) in third. The back marker Merrington Man (Morgan Rhymney) appreciated a reduction in handicap by claiming victory in the second heat while Believe (Pritchard Rhosgoch) was second and Boomerang (Peters Welshpool) was third.

Abernant (Hardwick Brecon) recently out of the nursery claimed the first Baby Novice race from the local True Grit (Thomas Tregroes) while Welsh Cowboy (Evans Red Roses) was third. Fold American (Perks Presteigne) looks set to make a quick progression through the section by claiming another victory beating Greenhill Raque (Morgan Rhymney) and Sunnyside Geoff (Clarke Brecon). The Red Devil (Greenway, Michaelchurch Eskley) was an impressive winner of the third race with the improving Sandside Cash (Elder Newquay) in second and Saunders Playboy (Pritchard Rhosgoch) in third.

The first three year old race of the year produced a dour battle between the grey Brywins Snowflake (Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey) and local horse Glan Levit (Evans Talgarreg), the Pembrokshire horse claimed the victory while the other Weigel entry Dragonfly was third.

The ladies took centre stage in the next race as they competed in the special consolation, Rebecca Williams partnered Hasty Flight (Williams Llanafan) to a well deserved win from Vyrnwy Chef (Barton Clunderwen) partnered by Janet Thomas while Helen Brisland driving Live the Dream (Langford Pontardawe) was third.

The Novice final gave Maesmynis pharmacist Gareth Bevan a well earned double as his youngster Ithon Express took top honours from East of Eden (Pritchard Rhosgoch) who must have earned more placings than any other horse with Man of the Day (Harries Llanllwni) in third.

The Grade B looked all set to be a repeat of the heat as Classic Day powered away from the gate, however the race isn't over until the long hill to the winning post is negotiated. Bon Beti and Ayr Force One drew alongside to record a blanket finish, and the camera confirmed Bon Beti (Evans-Jones Rhymney) in first Ayr Force One (Haslam Llanybydder) second with Classic Day (Miles Merthyr) consigned to third.

The Grade A was a repeat of last year as the favourite Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Williams Llanafan) driven by leading driver Derek Pritchard swept past the winning post in front. Derek's other horse Believe driven by Stephen Williams was second with Wellfield Xpense (Langford Ludlow) in third.

Nursery - race 1

1 Clare's Own (Mathew Tromans) owned & trained Evans Newcastle Emlyn 2 Glan Dancer 3 Luck Matters Time: 2:26.84

Nursery - race 2

1 Razzle Dazzle (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Thomas Llanybydder 2 Ithon Gypsy 3 Faraway Time: 2:26.72

Novice - heat 1

1 My Immortal (Mark Evans) owned & trained Evans Brecon 2 East of Eden 3 C U Boykin Time: 2:19.12

Novice - heat 2

1 Ithon Express (Gareth Bevan) owned & trained Bevan Builth 2 Glan Master 3 Man of the Day Time: 2:19.78

Grade B - heat 1

1 Blackfield Willy (Robert Barton) owned & trained Barton Clunderwen 2 Maple Star 3 Ayr Force One Time: 2:20.19

Grade B - heat 2

1 Classic Day (Rebecca Williams) owned & trained Miles Merthyr 2 Bon Beti 3 Family Circle Time: 2:17.29

Grade A - heat 1

1 Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Williams Llanafan 2 Shermanator Sam 3 Wellfield Xpense 4 Meadowbranch Mike Time: 2:19.84

Grade A - heat 2

1 Merrington Man (Mark Evans) owned & trained Morgan Rhymney 2 Believe 3 Boomerang 4 Purple Rain Time: 2:18.59

Baby Novice Race 1

1 Abernant (Andrew Hardwick) owned & trained Hardwick Brecon 2 True Grit 3 Welsh Cowboy Time: 2:24.47

Baby Novice Race 2

1 Fold American (Wayne Knox) owned & trained Perks Presteigne 2 Greenhill Raque 3 Sunnyside Geoff Time: 2:22.18

Baby Novice Race 3

1 The Red Devil (Andrew Hardwick) owned & trained Greenway Michaelchurch Eskley 2 Sandside Cash 3 Saunders Playboy Time: 2:22.41

Three Year Old Race

1 Brywin's Snowflake (Horst Weigel) owned & trained Weigel Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Glan Levit 3 Dragonfly Time: 2:23.75

Ladies Consolation

1 Hasty Flight (Rebecca Williams) owned & trained Williams Llanafan 2 Vyrnwy Chef 3 Live the Dream Time: 2:21.84

Novice Final

1 Ithon Express (Gareth Bevan) owned & trained Bevan Builth 2 East of Eden 3 Man of the Day Time: 2:18.84

Grade B final

1 Bon Beti (Derek Pritchard) owned Evans-Jones Rhymney trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Ayr Force One 3 Classic Day Time: 2:16.94

Grade A final

1 Obi-Wan-Kenobi (Derek Pritchard) owned & trained Williams Llanafan 2 Believe 3 Wellfield Xpense Time: 2:16.06

Article by Maureen Lloyd