Jonjo O’Neill’s name is on the Welsh Champion Hurdle roll of honour once more.
Some 46 years after he rode the legendary Sea Pigeon to victory in the prestigious race, O’Neill struck again in the contest when he and son AJ (photographed) sent out Pioneer Pete to land Chepstow’s two-mile showpiece on the opening day of the Welsh Racing Festival.
It was a proper family affair, with the six-year-old ridden by his other son Jonjo Jr.
Pioneer Pete is improving at a rate of knots. This was his fourth win in five outings since March – his only defeat coming in a hot Punchestown handicap – and he gave his supporters little cause for concern as he was always up with the pace and went clear before the last flight on his way to a four-length success.
Doctor Blue was bidding to give owner Dai Walters and trainer Sam Thomas their third successive win in the race, having bagged the prize with Lump Sum in 2024 and Celtic Dino last year. But he weakened quickly in the home straight before being pulled up.
While Pioneer Pete justified those who had backed him into 3-1 favourite in the big handicap, there was a shock in the other race that shared top billing on the opening day of the festival as the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle went the way of West Hill Verde, ridden by Porth-born Callum Pritchard.
He had failed to win any of his previous six races over obstacles, but picked the perfect time to break his duck, claiming the £45,000 first prize for trainer Seamus Mullins after a determined battle with Irish raider La Cote Fleurie.
Pritchard was not the only Welsh rider to scoop a big pot, as Sean Bowen steered Daylatedollarshort to take the valuable Silver Trophy.
Bowen’s victory was probably more fortunate than that of his compatriot as his partner was two lengths down at the last when leader Moon Chime fell.
Champion trainer Dan Skelton enjoyed a fantastic time with his young hurdlers at the meeting as Cooltobecareless – who was very impressive in the opening race on the first day – was followed into the winner’s enclosure by stablemates Whistling Dave, Hitintheheadlines and Divine Diva.
The focus now switches to Ffos Las, which is staging the most valuable race day in its history on Wednesday (October 14). A number of the races over fences were rerouted to the Carmarthenshire track from Chepstow, whose chase course is still recovering from
the summer drought and a dry early autumn.
Among the highlights is the Native River Handicap Chase, run in honour of the Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero. The three-mile contest has a prize fund of £50,000, while the Listed novice chase – won in the past by Cue Card – and the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase are both worth £40,000.
The latter of those two contests could see the return of Il Est Francais, a stunning winner of the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase in 2023 and runner-up in the King George a year later. He is looking to get his career back on track after a summer switch to the Skeltons.
The seven-race card is set to start at 1.45pm.
There is an additional jumps fixture at Ffos Las on Thursday, October 22 and also racing on October 29.
