Blue Ditch
- Ffos Las 5 Feb 2011
There is no town or even a village called Ffos Las. It
translates as Blue Ditch, the name of a farm that used to be here. It’ s nine
miles from Llanelli which is on the same Arriva Trains Wales line that connects
Cardiff to Swansea. A “cheap” day return ticket from my town Ludlow was priced
over £40. Well it is a long way – the journey time is not far short of three
hours with no changes. Fortunately, Arriva is running a “55” promotion until
April whereby you can travel anywhere on their network for £15 return (provided
you are over 55, £13 if 60+).
A courtesy coach service operates from Llanelli railway
station to the track. Timetable details are on the Ffos Las website. I sat next
to a friendly farmer with smudged spectacles who was quick to tell me he’d been
following Timeform selections since 1970. I resisted the opportunity to ask him
how he could still afford to go racing! Fair play to him though as his nap
Shoegazer, unsupported by me, obliged later at 10/11.
You should get some idea of the size of the track from the
above photograph taken just before racing. It’s comparable to Newbury with
three hurdles and four fences in the straight. It has a large circuit in excess
of 1m5f. The main attraction was the William Hill sponsored
Welsh Champion Hurdle which had not been staged for nearly a decade. In its
heyday – in the 70s – it attracted top quality runners. For example: Comedy Of
Errors and Bula in ’73 and Night Nurse, Dramatist and Beacon Light in ’77. Small fields were the historical norm and
today was no exception with just five runners taking part. Henderson’s Oscar
Whisky, owned by racecourse founder Dai Walters, was the hot favourite. I’d
taken a little 14/1 each way for the Champion Hurdle (with Skybet who’d just
decided to offer NRNB). Connections
were still pondering whether to go for the Champion Hurdle or the World Hurdle,
therefore I thought this represented a bit of low risk value.
Before the main race Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre trotted up
in the first by ten lengths at 2/9 and I had wasted a few bob trying to oppose
him. In the second race a change of luck as I backed Massini Man on the tote
(£13.10, sp 11/1) which lead all the way in the five-runner 3m novice chase.
In the feature the favourite obliged very comfortably indeed
against his inferior opposition. Skybet trimmed him a couple of points for the
big one after Dai Walters announced in his victory speech they would go for the
Champion Hurdle. It was interesting to see Nicky Henderson here rather than at
Sandown where his Champion Hurdle favourite, Binocular, was also obliging at
short odds.
Barry Geraghty with Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Oscar
Whisky
Following the euphoria of a 12/1 payout and the
spectacle of a decent horse winning comfortably, my betting exploits went into
reverse. I didn’t back another winner and finished the day in deficit!
Plenty of punters were inside sheltering from
the strong winds
Blazing Bailey looked an impressive winner in
the 3m4f handicap chase, staying on very strongly. This former top class
staying hurdler now looks set to impress over the larger obstacles given a
decent trip.
I opposed the Timeform good thing Shoegazer of course and
then supported Twiston-Davies’ gambles in the final two races which both
finished third after flattering to deceive.
A good day out and I am looking forward to watching “Oscar”
in the big one!
8 February 2011
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