Four of the six races held at Hereford Racecourse went to trainers based in Wales (writes Brian Lee).
Bridgend’s Christian Williams took the opening Conditional Jockeys’ Novice’ Handicap Hurdle with 9-1 chance Uno Mas, ridden by Rex Dingle.
Uno Mas which won by a length from the top weighted Bahama Moon and then, after Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams drew a blank in the next two races, he took the Mansionbet Novices’ Chase with Go Long, who, under stable jockey Adam Wedge won by one-and-three-quarter lengths from previous winner First Drift.
Bred, owned and trained by Powys farmer Brian Eckley – a man with just a handful of horses, Liberty Bella looks to have a decent future, winning her second successive hurdle race in fine style at @HerefordRaces under @robertdunne15: pic.twitter.com/bfrsFExrXI
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 2, 2019
Win number three came around 40 minutes later when Gardiners Hill, a 6-1 shot partnered by Sean Bowen, took the MansionBet Handicap Hurdle by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Western Wave.
Former point-to-pointer Gardiners Hill is trained in Pembrokeshire by Dai Rees.
Then, in the closing MansionBet Mares’ Novices Hurdle, 11-4 favourite Liberty Bella, trained by Brecon farmer Brian Eckley and ridden by RT Dunne won by six lengths from the James Bowen partnered LoveHerAndLeaveHer.