Trainer Rebecca Curtis (photographed) did not get the result she was hoping for in Saturday’s Betfair Chase, but Ben Solo gave her something to cheer when winning the feature at Chepstow on Friday.
Curtis, who trains in Pembrokeshire, saddled Haiti Couleurs, the best horse in Wales, in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but the Cheltenham Festival and Irish Grand National hero was pulled-up.
However, by then Curtis had already bagged Chepstow’s big race, a novice handicap chase, with Ben Solo.
A six-year-old, Ben Solo showed useful form as a hurdler last seen and made his debut over fences at Chepstow this month.
He finished a well-beaten fifth then, but it was his first appearance since the spring, so a step forward in terms of his fitness could have been expected last week.
It turned out that was the case as the son of Kingston Hill, sent off a 3-1 chance under Jamie Brace, was pushed into an early lead and never saw another rival, making all for a three-length success.
He could be worth following when he next runs and the same could be said of Le Frimeur, who won the maiden hurdle - the opening contest of Chepstow’s bill.
He is trained near Lambourn by Harry Derham and runs in the distinctive two-tone green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
In the hands of JJ Slevin, the youngster was not always fluent at his obstacles, but led before the last and kept on in pleasing fashion.
The card also featured a novice hurdle, which went to Doctors Hill. His trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White are never afraid to run a potentially nice horse at the course and the gelding could easily fit into that category after staying on to win with something to spare.
He was not scoring out of turn as he was unlucky to unseat his rider on his previous outing at Fontwell.
No Walkover, who landed the bumper, was the other horse to take out of the meeting and he was completing a double for jockey Conor O'Farrell, who had also won the 2m handicap hurdle on Reinado, while Dan Skelton, the leading trainer at Chepstow this season, was on the mark with Diamond Dealer in the 2m7½f handicap chase.
Ffos Las also raced last week and champion jockey Sean Bowen stole the show, riding three winners from his four rides.
The next racing in Wales takes place at Bangor on Saturday, while Ffos Las hosts another fixture on Tuesday next week.
That is followed by Chepstow on the Saturday of next week, when the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial takes place. It has been a decent pointer to the main event on December 27 as Secret Reprieve, Iwilldoit and Nassalam have all won it before going to glory in the Coral Welsh Grand National. Gates open at 10am and the first race is due off at 11.55am
