Welsh Trainers Earn Success At Hereford Races

Four of the six races held at Hereford Racecourse went to trainers  based in Wales (writes Brian Lee).

Bridgend’s Christian Williams took the opening Conditional Jockeys’ Novice’ Handicap Hurdle with 9-1 chance Uno Mas, ridden by Rex Dingle.

Uno Mas which won by a length from the top weighted Bahama Moon and then, after Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams drew a blank in the next two races, he took the Mansionbet Novices’ Chase with Go Long, who, under stable jockey Adam Wedge won by one-and-three-quarter lengths from previous winner First Drift.

Bred, owned and trained by Powys farmer Brian Eckley – a man with just a handful of horses, Liberty Bella looks to have a decent future, winning her second successive hurdle race in fine style at @HerefordRaces under @robertdunne15: pic.twitter.com/bfrsFExrXI

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 2, 2019

Win number three came  around 40 minutes later when Gardiners Hill, a 6-1 shot partnered by Sean Bowen, took the MansionBet Handicap Hurdle by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Western Wave.

Former point-to-pointer Gardiners Hill is trained in Pembrokeshire by Dai Rees.

Then, in the closing MansionBet Mares’ Novices Hurdle, 11-4 favourite Liberty Bella, trained by Brecon farmer Brian Eckley and  ridden by RT Dunne won by six lengths from the James Bowen partnered LoveHerAndLeaveHer.