Comfortable success for Chesnut Annie as AGA go to Wales and the sun shines on Howick

The welcome was as warm as the early spring sunshine for our first visit to Wales this season and it was very much appreciated. The going was perfect, the AGA branding looked resplendent, and there was just time for a quick visit to the sponsors tent before the action was underway.  



The rather nice spread in the sponsors tent

Chris surveys the rather nice spread in the sponsors tent!

I can confirm that both Derek and Chris went for the salmon and cream cheese, as well as a slice or two of home made cake, before springing into action by the AGA van - evidence of which you will see below (keep reading).

Mrs S and her new friends

Mrs S bonded with a rather nice horse called Flo and her equally nice rider Rebecca, although she declined the offer of a leg up. I also have it on good authority that Rebecca kept the boys on their toes from the moment that they arrived on course!


You put your right leg in ...

The mounted stewards deserve a mention as they looked fantastic and they were also very efficient when called into action to chase and catch a couple of loose horses ... not as easy as they made it look!


The AGA Pointing team studying hard

As you can see from the two photos immediately above and below the AGA Pointing boys were determined to find a winner or two ... they didn't. 


Still studying hard ...

Mrs S made a vain but amusing attempt to jump the last just before the first race but then thought better of it ... or maybe she just posed for a photo so that I could write a smart caption!

Mrs S about to take the last

I then took my obligatory photograph of the last fence - no blog post would be complete without one, and we settled down to watch the field thunder past for the first race. I hadn't done much homework before this meeting so tried a bit of ear wigging in the betting jungle instead ... that didn't work either!


We love our last fence photos

The hunters where given a canter around the course before the first race just to calm them down a bit but I swear that they went faster than my selection in the race itself!


Taking a breather

Beazo moves in to clinch a sale

The mounted stewards were called into action again, doing a fine job of catching a couple of wayward beasts who had decided to get rid of their pilots. They returned for a breather and looked none the worse for their efforts, which is more than can be said for my selection in the third race.


Having just chased a couple of loose horses it's time for a rest!

It was soon time for the main event of the day - The AGA Ladies Open race, and we invaded the paddock mob handed for one of our favourite parts of the day, meeting the owners and judging Best Turned Out.


The decs go up for the AGA race - Annie has scared most of them off"

We decided to make it a four way decision today with each one of us making our choice independently. We all agreed that Buck McGrath was the most handsome beast on show and Mrs S was delegated with the task of handing over the prize to a very happy groom.

Buck McGrath - winner of "Best Turned Out" in the AGA Ladies Open

A very happy groom having just been presented with the "BTO" prize

We then tried to second guess what last minute instructions were being issued ... and no doubt failed miserably! 

Last minute instructions for Mrs Rucker?

And the same for Jodie Hughes?

And also Sarah Bowen?

After one last look at the five runners for our race we left the paddock for our vantage point by the last fence to watch the race. 

William can't have tightened it enough ...

Pride of Wales - Chesnut Annie 

Chesnut Annie was soon in front and that is where she stayed, although Mrs Rucker tried to close on Petit Lord and at one point around 3 out was looking as if she may get upsides. However, Annie justified her odds of 2/7 and strolled home for a 12 length victory (her 9th at Howick), a victory it must be said that was very popular with the home crowd.


Annie leads Petit Lord on the first circuit

Young Albert leads Buck McGrath on the first circuit

Buck McGrath

Annie returns victorious

Buck McGrath, Brodie Hampson and our happy groom (3rd place)

Cool me down!

Lorraine Williams, manager of the AGA shop in Cardiff was on hand to present Beth Roberts and Sally Randell with their beautiful AGA clocks, and Sally was also allowed to hold the lollipop to show of her first 10 points of the season!


Look at that clock!

Sally then dashed over to the AGA van for the post race interview with Beazo, where she was also presented with her AGA "I'm In Total Control" polo shirt - and I can confirm that she was rather pleased with that.


Beazo does his stuff

Sally gave a good interview, so good in fact that it beat the record that was set the previous week for the longest post race interview.


Sally Randell - winner of the longest interview so far award!

The last two races were divided so they became the last four races and then it was time to say farewell to our new found Welsh friends with a promise to keep in touch on Twitter and Facebook. I also promised not to publish any embarrassing photos on this blog ... but I had my fingers firmly crossed when I said it!

Flo and Becky check out the AGA Total Control

If only they could talk ...