Fast ground at Bath last week meant an extra fixture at Chepstow on Wednesday and local trainer Grace Harris was certainly not complaining after landing the 5f handicap for apprentice jockeys with Savannah Smiles (photographed).
The five-year-old was sent off the 9-4 joint-favourite alongside Level Up, who was representing David Evans’ Abergavenny yard, and edged out her rival by a length and a quarter at a last-minute meeting put on because the prolonged dry spell at Bath made the track unraceable.
Elizabeth Gale, who has linked up with the Bargoed-based Bernard Llewellyn of late, was aboard Savannah Smiles and Harris also struck at Newton Abbot on Friday courtesy of My Girl Katie under Conor Ring in the 3m2f handicap chase.
Elsewhere on the Chepstow card, Rob Hornby, who had shone with a treble at Ffos Las last week, continued his fine form by winning the 5f handicap on Star Chorus for Andrew Balding, while Eddy Greatrex rode a double on Chief Mankato and Black Smoke.
Evans did gain some compensation for that Chepstow second at Leicester on
Saturday, when Davvy landed the seller, although sending Diamond Alexander to France on the same day did not work out as she was sixth of eight in a Listed event.
Like Bath, Bangor has had to deal with a few weather issues and no chases took place on Friday because of the hot temperatures, but that did not prevent Mickey Bowen recording success in the bumper with Way Maker, who powered home to win by an impressive 11 lengths.
Bowen, who trains in Pembrokeshire, took over the licence from his prolific father Peter in May and has made a productive start to his life as a trainer.
His brother Sean, crowned champion jump jockey for the first time at Sandown in April and in pole position for another title this term, did the steering on Way Maker and was riding his second winner of the week after a long trip to Perth paid off thanks to the Olly Murphy-trained Western Cloud, who obliged in the 2m4f maiden hurdle. His third came when Murphy’s Traveling Soldier kept on well in Market Rasen’s novice handicap chase on Sunday giving him his 49th winner of the season.
The brothers, however, had to settle for second in an entertaining finish to the 2m7f handicap chase at Worcester last Wednesday when Fame And Fun had no answer to Village Master, who was ridden by their younger sibling James. Trained by Warren Greatrex, the six-year-old has now won eight times from 13 appearances.
James Bowen has been aboard for six of those wins and was also smiling after Village Master’s stablemate Shillanavogy did the business with the minimum of fuss in the 2m½f handicap chase at Newton Abbot, while another two came his way when Mohawk Chief and Axel Bleue - saddled by Mickey - were on top at Market Rasen on Sunday.
No Bowens at Chepstow on Friday when flat racing takes centre stage on Ladies Evening. The seven race card starts at 5.35pm with a forecast for a dry and sunny evening.
