This Christmas Party Raceday meeting always delivers, and it was more of the same today at Chepstow. We saw several promising runners, all with bright futures ahead and some to keep an eye out for.
It was a double on the day for trainer Sam Thomas, as he landed the feature race of the afternoon, in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial Handicap. Jubilee Express under Lorcan Williams, who made all to run away a comfortable winner. He was pushed along by Jonjo & AJ O’Neill’s only runner of the meeting, Collectors Item, the pair coming clear by 30-odd lengths towards the finish. Making up the places was Minella Blueway for Evan Williams, who was followed up by Makin’yourmindup, who was back on the racecourse after a 615-day break.
The day started off with a well-backed favourite winning in the novice hurdle race, as The Price Of Peace bettered his second place at Ffos Las last time out. He did this in a convincing manner, travelling well and taking over at the second last with a huge leap. Top course trainer Rebecca Curtis had herself another winner with this impressive novice. Second-placed Times Are Green could not keep up with the winner, but ran with credit.
Sam Thomas continued his brilliant start to the season in the second race, a great battle in a handicap chase between Just Over Land and Ben Solo, which was won by the former. He jumped well and stayed on strongly towards the line, taking over from the favourite. The win gave amateur claimer Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt his second ever career victory as a jockey, his first also coming on this horse just 20 days ago at Fontwell.
Another gusty battle ensued in the third race, in the challenger stayers hurdle series qualifier, with Robbie Llewellyn-trained Love Of Neymore taking the spoils. A heads-up, heads-down finish towards the line with Champagne Chic saw Love of Neymore run on the stronger of the pair, with the eventual winning distance a neck.
In the fifth race, a limited handicap chase, Alan Jones had Toss Of A Coin more than ready, as he returned from a 300-day absence to score well, winning by one and three-quarters lengths. Despite hanging late in the day, he always looked like the winner under amateur jockey Jay Tidball, who saw out his task. Bective Abbey for Nicky Henderson rallied towards the finish but could not find enough to deliver a challenge.
Another eye-catching novice hurdler took the sixth race, as Modern Man won in scintillating fashion for Jack Hogan and Emma Lavelle. The son of Milan was unfortunate last time out over the course and distance here in his first race under rules; he ran into some useful horses that day, and made no mistake in this one. He approached three out with ears pricked and showed a great attitude throughout and won by a distance of eight and a half lengths.
The final winner of the meeting in the bumper race was Princess Day, who gave jockey Lorcan Williams his second winner of the afternoon. The filly was commanding from some way back from the finish, making all and stuck to her task in what looks to be a race with many nice types in it. There was a photo finish for second place, which went the way of The Lightmaker, with Dan Skelton’s Presley just in behind in his first race, who finished strongly and looks like one for another day.
