A sunny Ladies Evening drew a big crowd. The going was good to firm.
The meeting began with a 1m4f contest for apprentices. Sigrid Nansen (11/10 fav), the only filly in the race, completed a hat-trick with ease. Going easily in third place until breezing into the lead three furlongs out, she was soon in control and finished two lengths ahead of Das Kapital. Her jockey Cieren Fallon, much the most experienced of the jockeys in this race, was having his first ride at Chepstow. Trainer Alexandra Dunn’s season continues to go from strength to strength.
The next was also over 1m4f, but it was an unusual race in that it was confined to fillies who hadn’t won in 2019. Lafilia very nearly succeeding in making all the running. Roger Teal’s grey course and distance winner Rosie Royale (7/2) drew alongside her two out, but the leader refused to give in without a struggle. Not until the last 75 yards did she give way and let the game Rosie, partnered by Rossa Ryan, grind out a half length victory.
Many still had chances as the fillies’ mile race reached its climax. A furlong out, a welcome gap opened up for the horse in fifth place, Kyllachys Tale (4/1). Cieren Fallon drove him through it to nail Song Of The Isles in the last couple of strides. This win, by a neck, enabled Fallon and trainer Roger Teal to complete quick personal doubles.
In the 5f maiden for two-year-olds Glamorous Anna (33/1) disputed the lead with the 1/3 favourite X Force and by the two pole, to general consternation, she had the upper hand. She streaked away in the final furlong to score by no less than four and a half lengths, leaving her previous form well behind and furnishing Chris Mason with his first juvenile winner in over five years. Mitch Godwin was the successful jockey.
The 6f race was part of the Silk Series, for professional and amateur lady jockeys. John O’Shea’s dual course and distance winner Major Valentine (13/2) soon led, was two lengths ahead at halfway and had doubled that advantage with a quarter of a mile to go. It was Kate Leahy’s fifth career win, three of which have been at Chepstow. Princely ran on late, but the gap at the line was still four lengths. The Major will no doubt run again before long, without a penalty, while he’s in such good form.
13 contested the 7f handicap, and one of them came down after a furlong. Gold Hunter (11/2), who often fluffs the start one way or another, broke well this time and made much of the running on the stands rail for Raul Da Silva. He avoided the worst of the interference caused by the loose horse making its way across the field from the far side. Steve Flook’s charge enjoyed a clear lead for the last quarter of a mile and ran out a five length winner over the favourite, Kendergarten Kop.
Another 7f race brought the on-track action to a close. The Mick Channon-trained Jungle Juice (5/2) beat Dancingwithwolves here ten days ago, and the result was the same tonight. The winner burst into the lead against the stands rail a furlong and a half out and quickly put himself in the clear to come home first by almost three lengths. Jockey Scott McCullagh had rushed down from Ascot, where he’d ridden the winner of the 5.45.
