THE LUDLOW committee hosted a day of harness racing in glorious conditions near Bitterley on Saturday.

The first event was the nursery race, won by Pegasus Dream – from the Meaney stables in Merthyr – with Oakwood Rocket (Layton, Brecon) and Hyar Friction (Thomas, Tregroes) second and third, respectively.

In a Grade B race, Cool Ice – of the Gething family from Ewyas Harold and driven by trainer Derek Pritchard – won from Makemeamillionayr (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) with Lakeview Meg (Atherton-Rees, Narberth) third. Meadowland Maverick, driven by young owner Oliver Jones from Evenjobb, won a second Grade B race from Enter the Dragon (Harrison, Onibury) with Ayr Ontario (Weigel) third.

Second Affair (Thomas, Rhymney) won his first Grade A outing with Mark Evans at the controls. Second was Rhyds Design (Weigel) with Ontop Mcardle (Meredith, Treharris) third. Habberley Playboy, driven by trainer Mathew Tromans and belonging to the Gittins & Johns partnership from Shrewsbury, won a second Grade A event from Woodstone Jingo (Meaney & Harris, Merthyr) with Fold the Notes (Perks, Presteigne) third.

Hyar Truly, from the Thomas family of Tregroes and driven by Janet Thomas, won a baby novice ahead of favourite Ithon Legacy (Hardwick, Llanbister), with Hilltop Recon (Lloyd, new Radnor) third. On her first appearance this year, Afanbellsprincess – with owner Oliver Jones from Cribyn – claimed the second baby novice despite C U Maggie (Bevan, Llanddewi) closing and Dernol Yankee (Wozencraft, Llangurig) was third.

Back marker Immortal Breeze, encouraged by Thomas, swept home in the novice final to delight owner and longtime enthusiast Helen Williams, from Llanafan, and progress to the open classes. Second was Ook whos Coming (Evans, Brecon) with Beg for Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) third.

An exciting finish to the eight-strong saddle race saw leader Ayr Ontario – ridden by Martin Roberts – pipped by the accelerating Habberley Haste (Lloyd, New Radnor) with Frances Morgan on board. Evenwood Thumps Up and owner Kate Lewis, from Llanbister, finished third.

In the junior race, Habberley Playboy’s experience paid off for jockey Ellie Tromans while Izzy John, on the Duggan family’s Hurricane Howard, kept up the pressure.

The consolation race saw Martin Roberts from Dinmore, on his own Talavary Activator, claim victory despite the efforts of Tillies Laag (Evans) with Tyssul Pennylane (Broome, Bromfield) third.

In the Free For All, Saunders Mach 3 claimed his first adult win as Mark Bevan notched victory ahead of Woodstone Jingo (Meaney & Harris) with Ontop Mcardle (Meredith, Treharris) third.

The action moves to the Aberystwyth meeting on Cardigan Bay on Saturday (1pm start).