The main grandstand at Chepstow is not quite the dream of a romantic being starkly utilitarian with nodding appreciation of a down on its luck Sofia suburb
Chepstow set just into the Monmouthshire or Gwent as it is called these days. It is a stone’s throw from the Severn Bridge and hence is closer to Bristol than Cardiff. It lies close to the poor man’s run into Wales which means from the Midlands a sneaky avoidance for the extortionate entry fee charged by the crossing operators. Surely this cannot continue as our taxes pay for infrastructure. Or is this part of the long term for driver, pay tax on fuel, pay tax on your car and now pay tax to drive on the road through tolls. By taking the scenic route you get the chance to drive through the Wye Valley and The Forest of Dene which are great to visit. If you do take this path to Chepstow spend a bit of time at Symonds Yat and take a view form Yat Rock. Worth the stop I would say especially on a clear day.
Symonds Yat view worth a visit
I have been here five times over the years and it is a nicely laid out track in terms of facilities and stands. The undulating stiff course is a real test and is set in nice countryside haveing the hills and rivers of the English / Welsh border counties as a backdrop.. I think in general on the straight course the draw favurs the higher numbers to an extend; however the draw greatly places low numbers at a disadvantage. However I was stunned at the £21 entry fee which very nearly deposed Epsom for the worst value meeting. It was a meritous effort but that drizzly night with those screaming females (especially the over thirties) still leaves me shuddering. But come off it six class sixes was ridiculous and we need more quality I feel or if not let’s have some variety.
The field for the second about a quarter mile out with the mountainous background providing am attractive aspect
The set up is a bit of a mish mash mainly because of the natural fold in the topography. This makes the pre parade area and saddling baoxes a fair bit away from the main throng and difficult to access. However is rather unique giving a deceny view of things. The main paddock has a tiered effect for viewing and is set right by the winning line making the vire from the paddock steps right by the winning line the best vantage spot in my mind. There was pretty expebsive scran n offer with a pasty costy £4 a typical offer. The tea was OK certainly better than Salisbury. The archetecture was nothing too grand or distictive. I didn;t see a lake and the food appeared of a decent quality but too pricey fr me to be tempted to test.
Saddling boxes are quite remote from the main throng
The crowd was a not too bad size and pretty good natured. Amongst them was Willie Carson who was of course one of the all time greats. In the seventies flat racing was very fortunate with Willie had rivals such as Lester, Pat Eddery, Joe Mercer, Ron Hutchinson to name bt four. In those days Willie riding at under eight stone was a big plus and he won many handicaps that way. It is always woth keeping an eye on jockies and the weight they race most successfully at.
Willie seen here supervising some bloke with a bucket of water was presumably at Chepstow to see his son wltz off with the top pot of the day
The Racing
This was about as modest as you can get and to be honest I got a bit bored today. First up was a two year old auction stakes over a mile. On the face of it the key races were a couple of divided maidens of similar event as today held at Salisbury. I saw these on 11th August over the seven. Both Beau Duke and Lone Foot Laddie came out of the first division about even as one showing a bit more potential than on his debut and as the latter was only having his debut run and ran with plenty of promise I had him down as the positive. Today Beau Duke was a warm 15/8 favourite and ran creditably. Leading into the final two and only giving best close home with the leading pair well clear. Not a bad run but this was quite moderate and will be a bit exposed on this run if switching to nurseries. Not exactly a negative but I would better watch future runs. The other Salisbury runner today from that first division was Lone Foot Laddie who today looked like he would take a hand in the finish and a quarter of a mile out looked the most likely winner. But his head was all over the place, looked difficult to point in the right direction and is as green as grass. He has potential to pick up a nursery and will stay this trip but is very immature so whilst I will keep him as a positive it’s anyone’s guess when he starts to grow up a bit, but when he does he looks a good shout in a moderate handicap. The winner Titus Star was also at Salisbury but ran in the second division behind the tough Frog Hollow. Today the gelding came with a well timed run to score readily nicely ridden by James Doyle. This win franks form and my positive from that race Blue Surf can pick up a race soon (currently racing off 80) therefore anything more than 73 will be difficult to shoulder. The filly Strictly Mine ran with much more potential than shown in her first two runs to finish a staying on third. Cost next to nothing but can find a modest race. There is plenty of stamina in the family and may well stay a mile and a half in time. She was well clear of the rest who looked in general very poor. The only possible one to keep an eye on is Grande Illusion who was fancied a bit in the market (7/1 from 12/1) showed some speed but soon ran out of puff. Very green and sure to improve with time. Clearly had shown a bit at home but pedigree suggest will be better being targeted to racing over the sticks with time.
Next up was another class 6 event (get used to it as this becomes a recurring theme) this time a handicap but again down the straight mile. No race today was on the round course, presumably because the executive thought putting a turn in might be beyond the general ability of today’s participants. However I think that the higher the speed the greater the centrifugal force therefore the less chance of taking the bend and flying off. Anyhow it was a quite a tight and exciting finish in a similar way that Afghan Hound racing is interesting if you’ve staked enough money on it. The race because a tussle between a Hamdan Al Makoum owned three year old Makyaal (who looked by far the most talented but appeared to be what could be termed a bit of a dog therefore worth avoiding at all cost) and a winner last time out of a Leicester seller over a similar trip in the Portman trained Quite A Catch (battled on in the most dogged of fashion to get a head verdict allowing the terms dog and dogged to be exemplified in one race). Cathy Gannon (who seems to do well here) gave Duquesa a good ride but got into a bit of traffic and was finishing to good effect. It would not be surprise to see her slip in soon if kept to this moderate class and not overrated by the assessor (currently off OR 64)
Quite A Catch led back into the winners enclosure having battled hard to win
Next up was a class 6 (theme continues) handicap over seven, inevitably on the straight track which was won by the top weight Ellies Image. Previously she looked the sort to need a sharp track as was thrice a winner over this trip at Catterick. However ‘good’ second at Carlisle provides evidence that she does run well at tough courses and the straight course at Chepstow is very undulating.
Ellies Imsge kicks on
Fourth race was a seven furlong class 6 stakes but at least it was a seller therefore justifiably class 6 as bottom of the ladder. It was won easily by the three year old gelding Barista who failed to get a bid even at the opening three grand. To be honest the auctioneer was less than persuasive feeding off the total apathy around the ring when the winner was up for grabs. This may have been a potential little bargain as could not really have won easier and looks to have the build to make a hurdler in time. Current mark of 67 needs to be exploited as can win off it and is a little bit of a positive.
Winner attracted no bid not a mumer and that could be a bargain gone. One for the sticks in a year or two???
We waited all day for the feature event sponsored by sleeping giant of a local football club in Newport County. Younger readers will be amazed to know that County were a fully fledged football league club for many years till going out of business in the late eighties. The race was a Class 5 no less handicap for fillies over seven furlongs or there abouts. The field was almost entirely comprised of three year olds and the first three home were from the classic generation. The winner was ridden by William Carson who has struck up a good report with Mrs Greeley (the filly not some MILF I stress) having won over six at Yarmouth in a maiden last run. Confidently ridden produced from the quarter mile out stick and led a furlong out was punched clear for a pretty facile victory. She is still on the upgrade and given not subject to a violent over-reaction by the assessor in respect of her current 70 mark may well land a hatrick. Second home was top weight Song Of The Siren who met one today who was in form and well weighted. She was highly tried as a youngster after a Folkestone maiden victory including a good third in a Newmarket class 3. Is well capable of a win in class 5 off the 75 OR and this run marks as a positive as was racing alone up the far rails which I do not think was that an advantage today. She is a positive and I think giving weight in class 5 will suit better than getting weight in class 3 or 4 (if racecourses still have such a race for fillies these days). The favourite Swift Breeze was switched from her far rails stall one position onto the stands side soon after the start and made much more use of than her last race where held up over seven. She has won a maiden over six and maybe a return to that trip in handicap company would serve her better.
Easy winner of the feature handicap
My heart then sank as I looked at the fare presented for the remainder of the day. It had as its sixth race a class 6 this time over six furlongs. It was won by Darcey in a favourable twelve of twelve box in a battling finish by a short’un as they say. The mare has now won seven times from six to a mile and in fact this 60 mark today was the lowest she has won off as last win previously was off 68. Flaxen Lake ran a decent race up the centre of the track just being nodded out of it close to the line. Two wins out of thirty tells its own sorry tale. Athaakeel raced on the unfavoured far side and led for much being outpaced inside the final furlong. The five year old mare is racing off a 58 mark which is quite attractive and given she runs well at Brighton is a positive in basement grade if returning to that track especially if there is a decent cut.
Winning trio led back to the saddling boxes
Mercifully the final race was run over the minimum trip but inevitably it was a class six. It was won by Griffin Point who got a bit of a bang out the stalls got into the lead around a quarter mile out and held on under strong driving. She had previously run well here and as such probably likes the place. The second was Best One who could not make the stands rails quite help enough to win this. Little Perisher raced alone on the far rails from one box and this did the gelding no favours at all. I think he comes out as a bit of a positive here. On a very nice mark of 47 I think he ran up to his best today. Won a good maiden at Ascot and stays six on AW. My guess is a stiff five on fastish ground is optimal. Madam Isshe was a major move in the market backed into 2/1 favourite/not knocked about at all and easily beaten. Is difficult to know what to make of this as was on a decent mark, ran well in class 5 a couple of races ago over five at Windsor.
Horses noted today
Makyaal (N) down £20
4 1 4/1 3
Continued to look less than resolute next time but then with blinkers on first time he came in at 4/1 which was a blow. Hpwever looks such an awkward one to time the run right I still have him as a negatve although I admit blinkers were much more effective than I thought likely
Barista (P) down £40
3 2 4 2
Did not run badly but after three runs over 7f was returned to 8f and at Chepstow in grade 6 but was btn a head. That was when the white flag went up
Somg Of The Siren (P)
Little Perisher (P) down £30
3 4 2
First run was a sound 20/1 each wayer but subsequently couldn't quite deliver and when OR went up 3lbs I folded