The sunshine brought out the crowds to the popular South Pembrokeshire Hunt Point to Point races at Lydstep on Easter Monday.

The hunt committee made a superb effort in watering the course using more than 200,000 gallons, to ensure perfect ground which resulted in a good number of runners and very competitive racing.

James Tudor, standing in for the injured local favourite John Mathias, took the riding honours, enjoying four winners. He started with Kristal Harris trained Udeman in the open maiden, then David Llewellyn’s Rosies Peacock in the men’s open, who was winning for the fourth time at the Lydstep course, followed by the Dai Rees owned and trained duo Two Shook Men and Saint Peray (Intermediate).

Despite James being a previous national Point to Point champion it’s doubtful he has ever had four such impressive winners to ride in one day. The smallest winning margin of his four was by ten lengths, while the other three all recorded wins of more than 20 lengths. However, the day did not go all Tudor’s way, as despite being sent off odds on favourite by the betting public in the opening hunt members race aboard Lydstep Hills, an unusual mistake from the gelding saw the partnership hit the deck two from home. Bradley Gibbs and Sir Monty, who were in close attendance, only had to ensure a safe jump at the last to win by a distance from Paul Goldsworthy on Stafford Prince. Six of the day’s seven races were won by horses hailing from Pembrokeshire, highlighting a real purple patch for the sport in the county is enjoying in the sport.

Dai Brace’s Doctor Tom was the only south Wales winner, following up a maiden win at the Monmouthshire meeting, with a front running display in the concluding race of the day the ‘restricted’ race. The ladies’ open race proved an emotional win for Laugharne-based Lucy Pearce-Rowsell on Baron de Doc, after her father Keith suffered a heart attack on Easter Saturday.