REVIEW
MONMOUTHSHIRE
LLANVAPLEY
SATURDAY 5th APRIL 2003

by Colin Cross

GOING FIRM

HEE'S A DANCER won the Ladies Open ridden by Emily Jones by a distance from YOUNG MANNY and Bridget Lewis with DE CHELLY and Charlotte Owen 6 lengths away in third. However, after the race it emerged that HEE'S A DANCER had not carried the correct weight and the Stewards of the meeting have reported the matter to the Jockey Club. The race was marred by a fatal injury to TOSKANO owned by Lambourn trainer Dai Williams.

WADERS and James Tudor made virtually all the running to land the Men's Open in comfortable fashion from FATE A COMPLI and TOP OF THE CHARTS. The winner seems to have benefited from spending last summer in the show-jumping field as his jumping was first rate.

James Tudor was completing a double after winning the Confined race on MECCA PRINCE by a distance from DANNY GALE and James Diment who was the only other finisher. There was mayhem at the third last when the race leader KITULAA LAD fell and brought down DETROIT DAVY and ABSENT CITIZEN, leaving MECCA PRINCE to record a facile victory.

Dai Jones also recorded a double when successfully landing both divisions of the Restricted Open. BOOK'S WAY  took division one by 7 lengths from CLIMB THE HILL with RUNAWAY RALPH  a further 6 lengths away in third. Dai was able to set his own pace and was never pressed to land the spoils.

Similar tactics were adopted on GOLD KRIEK and although not jumping as fluently as BOOK'S WAY in division one the result was never in doubt.  PETE THE PAINTER kept on well to finish second with GERRY AND TOM third.

The Confined Maiden for 5,6,& 7 year olds was won by SHERBET FIZZ and Tim Vaughan. They kept on grimly to hold off MODESTY FORBIDS and Steve Thomas with PENNY'S LOSS third.

WILLMOSS under Steve Thomas walked over for the Hunt race