This week was the Welsh Racing Awards and the Racing Post’s James Stevens looks over the results from the Vale and on the racecourse in the last week…
It was the big night in the Welsh horse racing calendar on Thursday where legendary jockey Geoff Lewis was among the winners.
He was the only Welshman to win the Derby when partnering the great Mill Reef to glory at Epsom in 1971 and he picked up a lifetime achievement prize at a ceremony at the Vale in Cardiff.
Lewis, 88, was one of the best jockeys through the 1960s and 70s winning five Classics and guiding him to a memorable Arc success in his Derby-winning season. That victory for the Talgarth man, in what was a then record time, was significant globally with the horse American-bred and owned.
His daughter and two grandchildren picked up the penultimate of 22 awards of the night with the outstanding contribution prize going to veteran Glamorgan trainer Bernard Llwellyn.
DragonBet sponsored the three point-to-point prizes, two of which went to the Vaughan family. Tim Vaughan won the top trainer prize with son Ed landing male jockey of the year. Ellie Williams was the best female rider.
Elsewhere, Sean Bowen was named jump jockey of the year and David Probert was the top Flat rider. Peter Bowen and David Evans were the winning trainers and owners prizes went to Dai Walters and Alan Peterson.
Equine awards went to Libberty Hunter, Lump Sum, Al Dancer, Flying Fortune and Blue Prince.
Flying form
Sean Bowen’s incredible run continued last week with nine winners to sustain his excellent jockeys’ championship challenge.
The Welsh wizard kicked off the week with a treble at Leicester and enjoyed a winner at Fakenham on Tuesday.
Wednesday was a day of mixed fortunes as, after consecutive defeats on 7/4 shots, he bounced back with a double at Warwick. He was also in the money on Thursday at the same venue.
Bowen’s second with The Big Breakaway at Ascot was his best finish on Saturday but he bounced back at Uttoxeter with another two winners.
He has built up a healthy eight-point lead over second-place Harry Skelton with a total of 90 winners.
Brother James occupies sixth spot, one ahead of Jack Tudor, with Ben Jones narrowly out of the top ten.
Top trainer
Sam Thomas is proving a trainer to follow on the big Saturdays as he showcased his talents once again at Haydock on Saturday.
In the ITV opener, he sent out impressive 2m3f handicap hurdle winner Steel Ally for Welsh owner Dai Walters.
It was a noteworthy performance too from the winner who had to carry topweight on testing ground in the north west.
