Mason Paetel (photographed) made just his second visit to one of his home tracks a winning one.
The Bridgend-born jockey has become one of the rising stars of the weighing room since riding his first winner at Lingfield in November 2024.
Paetel partnered 31 winners last year and is already on 26 this term. And he broke his duck at Ffos Las when landing a seven-furlong nursery on Ariane Sky for James Owen in midweek. It was only his second ride at the Carmarthenshire course.
Paetel made virtually all on the 4-1 favourite, who held on in the closing stages to record a half-length success.
It turned out to be the only Welsh winner on the card. But there was a performance of rich promise in the feature event of the evening, the Christian Holland/Ken Howell Sports Betting Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The 12-furlong contest went the way of Roger Varian’s Summerson, who built on second places at Yarmouth and Chester to see off her three rivals by 13 lengths with the minimum of fuss.
The meeting heralded the start of the busiest period in the Ffos Las calendar. The course stages six meetings in August, starting on Tuesday with an afternoon fixture.
Eight days later there is evening racing on Wednesday, August 12.
It all builds nicely to the biggest social event in the Ffos Las calendar on Friday, August
21 – Ladies’ Day.
David Probert rode a short-priced double at Leicester in midweek. The Bargoed-born jockey took a six-furlong maiden fillies’ contest on Coat Of Red for the duo of Simon and Ed Crisford, then teamed up with Charles Hills to land a seven-furlong novice with Siwa Oasis. The double took him on to the 42-winner mark for the year.
David Evans was among the winners at Chester on Sunday. He struck with Blue Prince, who was ridden by champion jockey Oisin Murphy. It was one of four winners Murphy rode during the afternoon.
Preparations are in full swing for a landmark day in Chepstow’s history.
The meeting on Sunday, August 9 is the track’s Centenary Raceday.
Since opening its doors in 1926, Chepstow has cemented itself as one of the top racecourses in the UK – and the August 9 card will honour that rich history.
Some of the finest horses in British jumps history have graced the track during its first 100 years, with the roll of honour featuring legends such as Champion Hurdle greats
Bula, Persian War, Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon, plus Grand National hero Corbiere and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised.
The first race is due off at 2.06pm.
Meanwhile, Gstaad – the horse born in West Wales who has developed into one of the top milers of his generation – again found his old rival Bow Echo just too good at Glorious Goodwood last week.
Gstaad, who was bred at Maywood Stud just a few miles from Ffos Las, was overhauled by Bow Echo in the final half-furlong of the Sussex Stakes, the Group 1 highlight of the five-day meeting.
It is the third time this year the pair have clashed, with Bow Echo having previously beaten Gstaad in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before edging him out in the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
