Ben Jones (photographed) was not born far from Ffos Las, so it was appropriate he lit up Sunday’s meeting with a treble. The Carmarthenshire born rider is having a season to remember and it could get even better next week when he rides The Jukebox Man in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He will head there with a spring in his step after three winners at Ffos Las on St David’s Day.
The first of those came in the maiden hurdle on Uptown Dandy, who was getting off the mark at the seventh attempt.
Jones then steered Sparkling Duke, the 5-4 favourite, to victory in the 3m handicap hurdle.
Trained by Kayley Woollacott, the gelding had also won at the track under the jockey in January.
“He’s brilliant and loves the Welsh air and loves the track,” Woollacott told Sky Sports Racing. “That’s the first time he’s battled and he likes the testing ground, while I think we got the distance right with him as well.”
Mojito Lido then capped a brilliant day for the 26-year-old by winning the bumper with ease, powering 11 lengths clear of his rivals.
Along with The Jukebox Man, who runs in the colours of former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp, Jones has a fine book of rides at next week’s Cheltenham Festival and his Ffos Las hat-trick took him to 82 winners for the campaign, which is some going considering he partnered 77 in the whole of last season.
There was also a winner for Haverfordwest-born jockey Richard Patrick, who partnered Arctic Conditions to victory in the 2m3½f handicap chase, while Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams was smiling as well.
No-one has trained more winners at the course than Williams, who saddled Francky Blue to land the 2m handicap hurdle.
In the hands of Conor Ring, the five-year-old was ridden prominently and led after the third, but was not fluent when challenged two from home. However, Ring organised his mount and they went clear on the run-in, bounding home by six and a half lengths.
Grace Harris, who trains near Chepstow, was hoping to bag that race with Inion Tiogair, a recent winner at her local track, but he weakened late on and could manage only third.
Robert Stephens is another trainer close to Chepstow, but suffered a blow with the news stable star Caballero Cliff will miss the Cheltenham Festival.
He impressed at Wincanton recently and finished fourth in the Champion Bumper last March but has had a setback and will not race again this season. The son of Muhaarar had been an outsider for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but is held in the highest regard by Stephens and might easily have outran his odds.
Ffos Las races again on March 16, when the first of six races is due to start at 2.30pm, while Chepstow hosts a seven-race card the day before.
It starts at 2.10pm and will have a St Patrick’s Day theme.
