It's Christmas Jumper Raceday at Ffos Las. Pic: Ffos Las Racecourse

Tributes Paid Across Racing To Legendary Welsh Trainer Dai Burchell

Dai Burchell, a revered former trainer and one of the most colourful characters in Welsh horse racing, has died at the age of 87. Burchell, who hailed from Ebbw Vale, achieved remarkable success in his career, overseeing the training of over 400 winners from his small stables on a windswept hillside above the Gwent town.

Paul Jones | Mar 04, 2024
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Bowen’s Back! . . . Super Sean Ready To Leave Rivals Behind Him In Hunt For Title

Sean Bowen returns to racing on Thursday, convinced he can still become the first Welsh rider to win the jump jockeys championship for 70 years. Bowen is back in the saddle at Huntingdon, having finally overcome a knee injury he suffered on Boxing Day.

Graham Thomas | Feb 08, 2024
Full Stands at Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

New Chepstow Clerk Of The Course Dai Jones Will Continue To Tap Into Jockey Son, Ben

NEW Chepstow clerk of the course Dai Jones says he will continue to use his son, jockey Ben Jones, as a sounding board after moving to his new post from Ffos Las. In something of a transfer window merry-go-round within Arena Racing Company’s racecourses in Wales and the west of England, Jones has moved eastwards to Chepstow to replace Libby O’Flaherty, who has switched to Worcester Racecourse.

Graham Thomas | Jan 19, 2024
Coral Welsh Grand National - Chepstow Racecourse. Pic: Alamy

The Best Day Of My Life . . . Mud-Splattered Jockey Caoilin Quinn Salutes Nassalam After Dominant Chepstow Triumph

Jockey Caoilin Quinn reckoned it was the best day of his life after he turned the Coral Welsh Grand National into a mud-splattered procession on Nassalam. The big race winner capped an afternoon to remember for trainer Gary Moore when showing stamina in abundance to trumph at Chepstow.

Paul Jones | Dec 28, 2023
Coral Welsh Grand National - Chepstow Racecourse. Pic: Alamy

If Anyone Can Do It, Iwilldoit Can Win Again At Welsh Grand National

If Anyone can do it Again at the Coral Welsh Grand National, it’s Iwilldoit. If Iwilldoit wins the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27, then look out for 25 co-owners celebrating like they’re keen to make up for lost time.

Graham Thomas | Dec 26, 2023
Parc y Strade stadium for The Scarlets Rygby Team Pemberton Lanelli Carmarthenshire Wales. Pic: Joan gravell / Alamy

Everyone Remembers Their First Time At The Welsh Grand National

WELSH bookie James Lovell reckons everyone remembers their first time. For him, his maiden Welsh Grand National at Chepstow arrived early at around the age of five.

Graham Thomas | Dec 26, 2023
Glamorgan cricket ground Sophia Gardens Cardiff South Wales UK daffodil motif on entrance gates. Credit Jeff Morgan Alamy

Welsh Owner Janet Davies Celebrates Emotional 100th Winner

Janet Davies has paid tribute to her late husband Peter, and the support received from trainer Evan Williams and his staff, after earning her 100th winner as an owner. Minella Missile gave Janet her century mark with a debut victory under rules in the recent Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Editor | Nov 23, 2023
The Ospreys' furniture looking at home in St Helen's. (Pic: Owen Morgan)

Welsh Jockeys Unite To Show Support For Christian Williams

Welsh jockeys have crowned their own champion in Connor Brace and helped raise £15,000 for Welsh children’s cancer charity, Latch. Brace – whose younger brother Max plays rugby for the Ospreys Academy – won the Welsh Jump Jockeys’ Derby last weekend at Chepstow Racecourse.

Graham Thomas | Oct 18, 2023
Full Stands at Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Richard Patrick Is Welsh Lion King After Champion Hurdle Triumph

Welsh jockey Richard Patrick is celebrating a home success after winning the DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle on board Nemean Lion at Ffos Las. On a weekend when there was contrasting fortunes for Wales’ national rugby and football teams, Patrick tilted the balance in home nation favour on Sunday by winning the country’s biggest jump race after the Welsh Grand National.

Paul Jones | Oct 17, 2023
It's Christmas Jumper Raceday at Ffos Las. Pic: Ffos Las Racecourse

Gentlemen Prefer Ffos Las . . . On Welsh Champion Hurdle Day

The DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle will take centre stage at Ffos Las on Sunday as the climax of three days’ racing across Wales. The £50,000 race – which forms part of Gentlemen’s Day at the course – will celebrate its 102nd running, the culmination of the return of the jump season after two days of meetings at Chepstow.

Graham Thomas | Oct 13, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Kitty’s Light Is The One To Beat As Welsh Jockeys Battle It Out For Charity Chepstow Opener

Kitty’s Light – and jockey Jack Tudor – have been made favourites to win a Friday test of the best among the top Welsh riders. Wales’ leading jockeys will battle it out in their own Unibet Jump Jockeys’ Derby as part of the two-day season opener at Chepstow Racecourse this weekend.

Graham Thomas | Oct 12, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Welsh Jockey Alan Johns About To Raise Money By Going Way Beyond The Final Furlong

Welsh jockey Alan Johns will saddle up for the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday – less than 48 hours after he hopes to ride a monster winner at Worcester. Johns will catch a flight from Bristol – and a fast car – to the Scottish Highlands in order to raise funds for Latch, the Welsh children’s cancer charity.

Graham Thomas | Sep 29, 2023
Coral Welsh Grand National - Chepstow Racecourse. Pic: Alamy

New Chepstow Boss Lindsay Knox Ready To Overcome All Hurdles

Lindsay Knox is prepared to go the extra mile as the new general manager at Chepstow Racecourse. That’s in keeping, as she once raised thousands of pounds for charity by sledging 250 kilometres (155 miles) across the Arctic Circle.

Graham Thomas | Jul 25, 2023
Jockey Sean Bowen

Sean Bowen Seeks Six Appeal . . . More Chances At Ffos Las To Prove He Is Leading Jockey

Sean Bowen has half a dozen more opportunities to put some distance between himself and Brian Hughes at the top of the Jump Jockeys Championship at Ffos Las on Thursday. The Welsh jockey currently leads the way, having ridden 20 winners so far this season, which runs from the start of May to the end of next April.

Paul Jones | Jun 08, 2023
Jockey Sean Bowen

Jockey Adam Wedge Loves Ffos Las . . . And Vows To Chase Sean Bowen Again For That Course Record

Adam Wedge will bide his time before he bids to nose past Sean Bowen and become the leading all-time jockey at Ffos Las Racecourse. The Vale of Glamorgan-based Wedge was neck-and-neck with Bowen in the race to overtake the legendary AP McCoy, who led the way at the Carmarthenshire track with 69 winners at the venue before his retirement in 2015.

Graham Thomas | Jun 03, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Bargoed Bullet David Probert Fit And Firing Again After Painful Blow

Welsh jockey David Probert is set for a swift return to action having escaped serious injury when kicked by a horse at Windsor on Monday night. The incident occurred in the parade ring before the 5.35pm race where Probert – nicknamed The Bargoed Bullet – was due to ride Bits And Bobs for trainer Andrew Balding.

David Williams | May 24, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Kitty’s Light Shines On Something Much Bigger Than Winning Or Losing

DragonBet on-course bookmaker James Lovell gives the inside track on Welsh sport – what’s hot, what’s not, and who’s the talk of the betting ring. Bookmaking is a strange business and sometimes you’re happy when you lose. We’ve all heard the saying, “You never see a bookie on a bike.”

Dianna Cuesta | Apr 27, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Corach Rambler Proved A Wise Choice For 2K Gambler!

DragonBet on-course bookmaker James Lovell gives the inside track on Welsh sport – what’s hot, what’s not, and who’s the talk of the betting ring. I stand with the vegans. Ban the Grand National! Well, that’s what my empty pockets are telling me, anyway.

Dianna Cuesta | Apr 19, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Welsh Trainers Get Ready To Hear The Grand National Roar – All The Way From Chepstow! 

Tim Vaughan, Sam Thomas and Peter Bowen will bid to end over a century of pain for Welsh horse race trainers at the Grand National on Saturday.  It is 118 years since a Welsh-trained horse won the iconic race at Aintree, but if one of the trio does triumph then the roar will go around Chepstow as well as Aintree. For the first time, Chepstow Racecouse have shaped an entire day’s racing around the biggest race in the calendar, which is taking place 186 miles north in Liverpool. 

Editor | Apr 15, 2023
Ffos Las on race day Cr Gruffydd Thomas / Alamy

Spring Is In The Air . . . And The Grand National Is Around The Corner

DragonBet on-course bookmaker James Lovell gives the inside track on Welsh sport – what’s hot, what’s not, and who’s the talk of the betting ring. To a bookie, spring means only one thing. Aintree. The Liverpool meeting on April 15 is big. It’s not Cheltenham big, but it’s the next best thing.

Dianna Cuesta | Apr 05, 2023