Queensland father and son duo Richard March, as trainer, and his son Dayl March, as reinsman, have enjoyed the shift of the meetings to Armidale whilst works were undertaken at Tamworth to build a new official’s pod and a roof to the stabling area.

Dayl has driven six winners over the “mini carnival” and returns to Thursday’s meeting with another three runners – last-start winners Ykikafil and Ultimate Ad while Clintal Do will be returning from a spell.

“They made me work for it last meeting, but it’s good,” Dayl said.

He was referring to his close wins throughout the meeting, starting with Ultimate Ad in taking out the Happy 92 Years Young Doreen Shepherdson Pace.

From the four barrier, he went straight to the lead with Ultimate Ad but had to contend with Too Good For You, of the Lola Weideman stables.

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“It [Too Good For You] just wouldn’t go away and it was a fight to the finish but luckily we got there,” Dayl said.

“Down the back I thought he [Too Good For You] really was going to be too good for me – I was just lucky enough to get through, and the corner came up so that helped me.”

Ultimate Ad held on for a half-neck win over Too Good For You, with Don’t Be Jealous (Richard Williams) a further 27 metres away in third. Ultimate Ad ran the 1609m in 1min 59.8sec.

“It’s good to get a win with this fella,” Dayl said. “He has been mixing his form a little bit this prep but his last few runs have been OK.”

Ultimate Ad will contest the Mariees Catering @ Armidale Paceway Appreciation Pace, from the seven barrier, on Thursday.

Ykikafil will also be looking for back-to-back wins after a solid effort last week to take the Tamworth HRC Achievement Award 2018- Scotty-Jon Welsh Pace by 1.4m over the Sarah Rushbrook trained-and-driven Christian Shannon.

Dark Side (Maddison Simon) was a further 18m away in third.

“Sarah’s horse [Christian Shannon] really put it to him [Ykikafi]) and he was lucky to just get in front of her,” Dayl said.

“Going into the last bend Sarah’s horse was going just a bit better than mine and when we levelled up, we just got the better of her up the straight.”

Ykikafil will commence from the seven barrier in the Peter & Dianne McNamara Photography Pace, which will include last-start winners Shadow Dealer, from the Wayne Gray stables, and Hedges Avenue, from the Ernie Mabbott stables.

Dayl rounded out last week’s meeting with yet another narrow win, when Our Major Day had a half-head win over Narrabri pacer Padrisimo, driven by Brad Elder. 

“Pulled up after the line and Brad [Elder] said ‘did you get it’? And I said ‘I couldn’t tell you’.

“So I was pleased to hear that result.”