Welsh Teenager Connor From Rugby To Racing Success

Bridgend’s Connor Brace, aged 17, chalked up his first ever double under rules when winning the opening and closing races at Wetherby (writes Brian Lee).

Rugby-mad Connor, who used to play mini and junior rugby at Kenfig Hill RFC, won the Conditional Jockeys Novices’ Handicap Hurdle on the Fergal O’Brien trained Ballyhome and then won on board Ben Pauling’s Skidoosh.

Connor and Skidoosh won the Enjoy The Jumps On Racing UK Novices’ Hurdle.

Ballyhome went off as the 6-4 favourite and won by eight lengths from Northen Gal, while Skidoosh, a 4-1 chance, scored by one-and-a-quarter lengths from He’s A Goer with champion jockey Richard Johnson on board.

They were Connor’s only two rides at the meeting and the former point-to-point rider, who last season won the National Novice Riders’ Championship and several other awards, rode 21 winners between-the-flags for his grandfather

David Brace OBE of the Dunraven Stud, Pyle near Bridgend.

The former St Clares Independent School, Porthcawl pupil passed all 10 of his GCSE’s and claims this was only because his mother wouldn’t allow him to go racing if he hadn’t done well in the exams.

Connor, who is attached to Fergal O’Brien’s Gloucestershire yard, won his first pony race at the age of 11 and rode a total of 47 winners in pony races at point-to-points all over the country.

He says his most exciting racing moment came when winning his first race Under Rules on Robin Des People at Stratford when he beat his pal, Welsh champion point-to-point rider Bradley Gibbs.

One thing certain is that we will be hearing a lot more about this promising young Welsh jockey Connor in the future.

There is increased support for British point-to-points ahead of the new season which starts this month.

At a sponsors’ gathering and season launch at Cheltenham it was revealed that Skinner’s Pet Foods, which has a network of stockists around the UK, is backing 22 ladies’ open races.

That is an increase of two, culminating in a prestigious hunters’ chase final at Stratford in May. Skinner’s is also sponsoring the national women riders’ title.

Frontline construction company JRL Group Ltd is ramping up backing for the sport’s point-to-point Flat races, which have been increased in number from six to 10.

A Point-to-Point Steeple Chase fixture provides an opportunity for horses trained and ridden by amateurs to participate in Point-to-Point Steeple Chases.

The additional contests were a natural progression for a relatively new concept – of last year’s half-dozen races five were so popular they had to be run in divisions.

Leading horse feed manufacturer Connolly’s RED MILLS enters a 12th year of sponsorship by supporting 14 intermediate races plus a hunters’ chase final at Cheltenham in May.

The company also backs the champion horse award for the winning-most pointer, while its supplement brand, Foran Equine, sponsors the two trainers’ championships.

Leading managed IT and communications provider Timico returns with a lucrative series of mixed open races – each one worth £1,000 in total prize money – leading to a hunters’ chase final at Cheltenham worth £25,000, notable riches for the amateur sport.

There will be 14 races leading up to the final, which will mark Timico’s third year of sponsorship.

Filly and mare owners are not short of opportunities for their horses. The Jockey Club sponsors a 19-race series for maiden fillies and mares, leading to the creation of a champion.

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