Sporting Prints

07/09/2026

In 1926 Chepstow Racecourse open its gates for the first time.

In 1949 the Welsh Grand National, inaugurated 1895 at Ely Racecourse Cardiff, was first staged at Chepstow on Tuesday 19th April was won by Fighting Line trained by Ken Cundell and ridden by Dick Francis. Chepstow became the permanent home of the National thereafter and is now recognized as a Premier Handicap.
Today we will have a look at a few more horses and jockeys who have won the David Brace OBE sponsored Dunraven Bowl.

Today’s photos:

1997 - Final Pride and Pip Jones (photo not at Chepstow).
Trained by Cynthia Higgon for G Barrett. The first winner of the bowl, Miss Millbrook, was second with Evan Williams in the saddle.

2009 - Bob Bites Back and Rhys Hughes. Trained by John Moore/Robert Scrine for Edna Hussey.

2010 Master Charm and Tom David. Trained by Abbi & Tim Vaughan for David Lovell and Brett Lloyd.

2011 Pathian Prince and Paul Tolman. Trained and owned by Eric Clough. Awarded the race after Bobs Law was disqualified.

2015 Desertmore View & John Mathias. Owned by Chirs Williams.

03/09/2026

Who can remember this Charity Race at the South Pembrokeshire meeting at Lydstep on the 16th April 2010.

27/08/2026

The last time we were at……………………………Erw Lon was on the 27th February 2010 for the Carmarthenshire Hunt Point to Point.

Like many of us many happy hours were spent at Erw Lon in all sorts of weather. They raced at the Carmarthenshire Course from 1979, sometimes holding two or three meetings a season.

Whatever misgiving there were about the course at Erw Lon, it served Welsh Point to Pointing very well over the years.

If you have any memories of this unique course, please share your thoughts with us.

The going on that day was described as “Soft, Holding in Places”.

The results: Hunt Members Race:
1st Pelennor (4/7F) ridden by Rhys Hughes.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Carl Pyne.
2nd Pussigny ridden by Jessica Jones.
3rd Last Symphony ridden by Dai Jones.
5 Ran.
Mens Open Race:
1st Makena (7/2) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained by Kristal Harris for Mr D L Evans.
2nd Balearic Star ridden by Paul Tolman.
3rd Alfabet Souk ridden by J Hooper.
6 Ran.
Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Race;
1st Oca De Thaix (5/2) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained by Robert Luke for Charlotte Evans.
2nd Crofton ridden by Josh Harris.
3rd Banbury Babe ridden by Ben Poste.
7 Ran.
Ladies Open Race:
1st Warsaw Pact (4/7F) ridden by Chloe Roddick.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Mrs C Rhead.
2nd Naughty by Nature ridden by Lucy Jones.
3rd Back the Bid ridden by Sally Randell.
5 Ran.
Restricted Race:
1st Rith Bob (1/2F) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained By Dai Rees for Mr D Rees.
2nd Farnogue ridden by Dai Jones.
3rd Duggan’s Forge ridden by Paul Tolman.
9 Ran.
Open Mares Maiden Race:
1st Princesse De Rome (3/1) ridden by Rhys Hughes.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Mr M J McMahon.
2nd Bunny McDougall ridden by Nathan Deakin.
3rd Little Miss Monty ridden by Emily Farr.
12 Ran.
Open Maiden (Horses & Geldings):
1st Mr Who (3/1) ridden by Ruth Birt-Llewellin
Trained by Ruth Birt-Llewellin for Mr J Birt-Llewellin
2nd O’Rage ridden by Richard Woollacott.
3rd Willottie ridden by Emily Farr.
11 Ran.

26/08/2026

For your diary.

23/08/2026

Chepstow Centenary.

If you are an enthusiast of “racing between the flags”, the Dunraven Bowl Open Hunters’ Steeplechase at Chepstow at the end of April is the place to be.

David Brace OBE first sponsored this race in 1996, when the first winner was Miss Millbrook ridden by Evan Williams. Evan won the race on a further two occasions with Cherry Gold in 2003 and 2004. Cherry Gold won it again, for Bob Mason in 2005, with Jason Cook in the saddle.

The present Clerk of the Course at Chepstow, Dai Jones, was a winner in 2006 with Keith Pritchard’s Cannon Bridge.

As for the race's sponsor, David Brace OBE, his dream come true in 2019 when his home bred Pink Eyed Pedro, given a great ride by a then 16-year-old Jack Tudor, romped home by eleven lengths.

David won it again in 2022 with Gats and Co (Tristan Durrell) and in 2025 again with Pink Eyed Pedro, James King in the saddle.

Bradley Gibbs has always had a close connection with David Brace, winning the race himself with the mare, My Coranna, in 2016.

At a later date we will have a look at some of the other winners of this great race.

14/08/2026

Memories of Chepstow.

March 1892.

Inaugural 2-Day meeting of Chepstow Steeplechases took place at St. Arvans , barley two miles from Piercefield Park on the 22nd/23rd March 1892 with Henry Hastings Clay owner of Priestfield House acting as Steward. He later became director of the Chepstow Racecourse Company.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s, when a series of Charity Races were held for amateur riders.

Who do you recognise?

12/08/2026

On Saturday at Perth and Market Rasen the National Hunt season resumes after its summer break.

Before that we can have a quick look to see how our jump jockeys’/trainers have fared since the start of the current season in April.

Harry Skelton leads the way with 64 wins (38% strike rate) from Sean Bowen with 51 wins (24%). Maybe stating the obvious, but it is beginning to look like a two “horse” race already. Sean is up against the mighty Dan Skelton yard, with 65 winners already this season. Sean, who is the defending his National Jump Jockeys title will not be too disappointed with the season so far, knowing there is a long way to go yet.

Somebody who will be very pleased is Sean’s brother Mickey Bowen, who sits second in the trainer’s championship (to Dan Skelton) with 21 wins and £241k in prize money.
Back to the jockeys, Ben Jones and James Bowen have 10 wins each, Jack Tudor has 6 wins.

Charlie Price and Callum Pritchard have 4 wins each, Conor Ring (3), Lorcan Williams (2), Lewis Saunders (1), Ellie Williams (1) and Ellis Collier (1).

Christian Williams has seven entries at Perth on Saturday (one twice), that is a journey of around about 450 miles for Christian and his staff to have to make from their stables at Ogmore-By-Sea. Even further for Mikey Bowen who has three entries at the Perthshire track. Mickey Bowen also has three entries at Market Rasen.

This affectively the middle part of the season where we start to head for the beginning of October, this is when the National Hunt season really begins with a the three-day meeting at Chepstow.

11/08/2026