Our next meeting at Chepstow is this Friday 27th May. We have seven races from 1.20pm with advance tickets £17 – you can also pay on the day with tickets at £22. It’s a busy period for the racecourse with another fixture on Jubilee Saturday 4th June and then again on Friday 10th June.
David Probert was in great form at Bath on Friday, where he rode a double, and did even better at Haydock on Saturday, riding three winners in races shown on ITV4.
Valley Forge’s victory in a two mile handicap needed all his skill and determination, for the horse repeatedly lugged to the left, risking interfering with his opponents. Probert straightened him up and got him going despite dropping his rein briefly. He took the lead in the last few strides to win by a head. He’d ridden this useful sort to win the prestigious Melrose Handicap at last year’s Ebor meeting.
He then won the £100,000 Silver Bowl over a mile on Whoputfiftyinyou, coming from last to hit the front in the last half furlong. He took a while to pull up afterwards. It was an interesting booking, as Probert doesn’t ride for Clive Cox often. The horse has now won all his four races and the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot is next on the agenda.
Then came triumph in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over five furlongs on The Queen’s five-year-old King’s Lynn. He came from behind to lead inside the final furlong and then hold on to a rapidly-diminishing advantage and was a head in front at the post. King’s Lynn is in three races at Royal Ascot.
Probert’s form at Haydock that day was 3113123. His winning treble paid 209/1.
Monmouthshire’s Nikki Evans trained her first winner of the year at Bath on Friday. More Than Likely’s 40/1 SP indicated she was a less than likely winner, but clues were there if you looked back through her form. Her latest run was her best for some time; she was only beaten three and a half lengths and didn’t get a clear run. She had won four times earlier in her career when trained by Richard Hughes, was rated 88 at her peak, and was running now off 54.
Sean Bowen’s strong start to the jump season continued at Ludlow on Monday when the 13-year-old Mr Mafia defied odds of 16-1 to take the handicap chase over three miles and a furlong. The Martin Keighley trained gelding was Sean’s 12th winner of the campaign.
Finally, we are looking for casual staff to work on race days at Chepstow. These are immediately available roles. All applicants welcome. For further information, please email info@chepstow-racecourse.co.uk
