Tir Prince to celebrate Silver Jubilee uniquely

Abergele, Wales – Tir Prince Raceway celebrates 25 years showcasing the sport of harness racing this season and continues to mark its silver jubilee with a unique “greys only” contest to be held at the venue on July 18th.

Never staged before in the British Isles, this novel event dubbed the Foreclosure N Platinum Free For All is being sponsored by the Oakwood Stud to herald the arrival from the USA of their new stallion, Foreclosure N, who holds a 1.48.4 mile record and has covered over 40 mares so far this season.

The free for all has already attracted worldwide media interest and entries have started to flood in from Ireland, England and Scotland in addition to the locally trained Welsh runners who all want to grab a piece of history.

Just like their Thoroughbred counterparts who took national hunt hero Desert Orchid to their hearts, harness racing fans love to see a majestic grey pacer in full flow and with entries still open at the time of writing, speculation is rife as to which of the following household names highlighted below will turn up on the night to thrill the crowds.

Early ante-post favourite for the race is Wellfield Ghost representing South Wales owner Roy Sheedy, who has hit the target 12 times including a win as recently as last week in a high class heat at Aberystwyth. Now a grade 9, he is ably partnered in races by Sarah Mould and the combination will be fancied to show their rivals a clean pair of heels on the night.

The eight-year-old, Blue Incredible, trained and driven by Jason Podmore is a renowned track specialist at Tir prince. The grade 7 handicapper is toughness personified being the winner of 14 races and 23 placed efforts including a five  straight victory streak back in 2013 culminating in a grade final win at Aberystwyth in July of that year

English hope Jack Frost is also likely to prove popular with holidaymaker punters who will place their bets purely on looks alone, being virtually white in colour and partnered by leading lady driver Victoria Gill. A grade 7, hes currently amassed 10 wins in his career so far including two grand final victories whilst also demonstrating his current rude health with a second at York on May 5th in 2:00 and then a comfortable win at Appleby on May 25th.

Another big improver right through the 2014 season was Yorkshire man Andrew Cairns’ Coalford Chief and although only 6 years old, hes made 12 visits to the winners enclosure and came of age in no uncertain terms last September when he landed the Joe Murdock Memorial Open Final at Scottish venue Corbie Wood. Hes been lightly campaigned and not won so far in 2015, but it would be foolhardy to write him just yet.

The only lady in the line up so far is the aptly named Shades Of Grey, and her connections, Shane & Claire Fletcher, will fancy her to whip her male counterparts into submission on the night. Imported from the USA as a foal, shes getting better with age and ran out a game winner of the George Bell Memorial grand final in Scotland in 2014 making it 9 wins in total and almost £9000 in prizemoney won so far. Now a BHRC Grade 9 she hasn’t won so far in 2015 with her best finishing position a 3rd at Tregaron on the opening meeting of the season.

The Irish raider Oakwood Outlaw could prove to be the fly in the ointment to them all, however. The 9 year old was actually bred by the race sponsor, Oakwood Stud, and is now in the care of top reinsman Alan Wallace. Although the grade 5 has yet to get his head in front this season hes been runner up in his last 2 starts and seems to be hitting top form at just the right time.

The Foreclosure N Platinum Free For All greys only race remains open for additional entries right up until 7 days before the unique contest and hopes are high that some other grey pacers will emerge up through the ranks to line up in this most unusual field of standardbreds. Recent Aberystwyth winner Ayr Pleasure, Coalford Showtime, Ayr Fella and South Wales hope Krakatoa are some other performers that spring to mind so a full field of 10 greys is a distinct possibility as the mobile starting car pulls away at Tir Prince on July 18th.

by Thomas Bennett