It could pay to take note of the winners from Chepstow’s meeting last week as a few have the potential to go on to bigger and better things.
New Rules, who is trained by Paul Nicholls, was the first to make his mark. An impressive point-to-point winner last year, he was then sold for €105,000 and now runs in the colours of Michael Geoghegan and Sean Mulryan.
The five-year-old lined up in the 2m3½f maiden hurdle but did not start favourite as that honour went to Red Acres Max, a 5-6 chance for Jamie Snowden. However, he was no match for the 7-2 winner, who disputed the lead and took control two hurdles from home, keeping on well on the run-in.
A step up in class for the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on December 4 could be next for New Rules, whose trainer was understandably complimentary afterwards.
Nicholls and Geoghegan enjoyed another winner courtesy of Don’t Panic, comfortably on top in the bumper. He had not contested a point and was not as pricey as New Rules but appears equally exciting as he was way too good for his rivals.
In between those races there were two divisions of the 2m maiden hurdle and both went the way of all-conquering champion trainer Dan Skelton. He has had an electric start to the 2026-27 campaign and is saddling winners left, right and centre.
First up for him last Wednesday was St James's Finest, who denied 1-2 Nicholls
hotpot Order On Time and did so in some style.
Ridden by Skelton’s younger brother Harry (photographed), the five-year-old was in touch and then made smooth headway before sauntering clear for a decisive 13-length victory.
Owned by The Carlton Racing Partnership, he looks a smart prospect and the same applies to stablemate A Sight To Sea, who was just as impressive in the second division of the contest.
The Affinsea gelding, who cost £190,000 at a sale 12 months ago, was ridden prominently, but was not fluent at the third-last and was then awkward at the next. Those errors did not derail him though and he was able to power home, scoring by an easy 14 lengths.
Grace Harris did not have any runners on the card, but was smiling last week thanks to winning machine Macarone.
He joined Harris, who has had a campaign to remember, in the spring and was without a success in his first six runs for her Shirenewton yard but then struck at Ffos Las in August and has now won five on the spin.
The latest of those came at Wolverhampton and a sixth triumph cannot be ruled out on his next start.
The next meeting at Chepstow is next Friday 20th November, when seven races - starting at 11.50pm - are scheduled, while its sister venue Ffos Las is in action next Wednesday 18th November. The opener is at 1.18pm.
