Ffos Las goes down a storm

Bad weather blighted the inaugural Flat meeting at Ffos Las, but the fixture still received a universal thumbs-up from jockeys and trainers. Although a crowd figure of 3,500 wasn't even close to the sell-out 10,000 for the first jumps fixture last month, the grandstand was packed for the opening six-furlong maiden.The course was drenched by 51 millimetres of rain last Thursday night and a further 14mm fell in the 12 hours before racing, but the going was no worse than good by the time the stalls opened. Clerk of the course Tim Long said: "On Friday morning, after all the rain on Thursday night, we were perfectly safe to race. The track was built to withstand that sort of rain. "All morning it has been raining and we keep thinking it's going to ease up. I'm glad to hear they're saying it's riding as good ground." Although those in the grandstands had no big screen with which to follow the opener, connections of the winner, 10-11 favourite Our Dream Queen, watched the action closely and were full of praise for the new venue after the filly eased clear passing the furlong pole to oblige.Charlie Hills, son and assistant to successful handler Barry Hills, said: "This is a very proud moment. Dad came and walked around the track before it opened and he thought it was top-class. It does look a beautiful racecourse and is a lovely, flat track." His brother Michael, who rode Our Dream Queen, added: "Cantering down, I couldn't believe how the ground has held together with a lot of rain. It rode good, but loose on top. It's a lovely, fair track and I think it's beautifully made."Willie Carson and Joe Mercer, both former champion jockeys, made the trip along the M4 to visit the first new turf course to open since 1927. Carson commented: "It looks a lovely, fair track, a sharpish track which will suit front-runners - I think the sprinters will be able to ping off and go. We have had a lot of rain and the horses finished very quickly, so it's obviously well drained."