17:56 That's it from a sunny Chepstow where we have had an enjoyable afternoon's racing.
Our next live coverage will be from Newbury on Friday, until then good afternoon.
17:48  A 2m 110yd bumper to wrap up proceedings here at Chepstow.
Certainly nowhere near the standard we were watching this time last week at Cheltenham, nonetheless this looked to be a better than average bumper.
Volador, impressive in defeat at Sandown last time out, was sent off the odds-on favourite and he landed the spoils but not without having to fight hard for his victory.
Brookfieldshector set the early pace before being headed by Timeshift who took up the running halfway down the back straight, although Brooksfieldhector tried to stick with him.
Volador was settled in about seventh place by Richard Johnson.
The front pair were beginning to look tired two furlongs out and second favourite Aldertune had run-on into third. However, running on more impressively, was the favourite.
A furlong out it was a two horse race with Timeshift grittily holding off the challenge of Volador. It has to be said that the favourite did not look too keen to go past the leader but under Johnson’s urgings he eventually got his head in front to claim a 1¼ length victory over the brave Timeshift with Aldertune a further eight lengths back in third.
17:23  Our longest race of the afternoon next a 3m 5f Hunters Chase, over the same course and distance as the Welsh National.
Twenty went to post and it took a few attempts to get them under way, thanks to a somewhat pedantic starter.
Thompsons Wood set the pace until falling at the 14th, leaving El Hombre Del Rio who was sweating profusely, in front,
He held onto the lead until joined by the favourite Trust Fund as they turned for home. The favourite had been settled about sixth place for most of the contest before making progress down the back straight for the final time.
The pair were locked together jumping the first two in the home straight, followed by Shady Hollow and Holly Walk who was running on really well, these were the only four with any chance.
Trust Fund ran on approaching three out and the only way he would not win would be if he had fallen, which he did not.
El Hombre Del Rio was very tired in second place and was overhauled by the running on Holly Walk on the run in.
The runner-ups performance is all teh more impressive as she walked through the top of the open ditch four out.
4:25  A 2m 4f handicap hurdle for out fifth contest with fifteen going to post.
The only two fillies in the field set the pace with Callerlilly heading Cresswell Willow. The duo shared the lead until the eighth flight where Cresswell Willow fell. This left Callerlilly alone in front but the field were bunching and Templer emerged as the best of the bunch to take the lead two out.
Running on between the last two he had a good lead but the field were bunching up behind ready to mount challenges.
Templer jumped the last a few lengths in hand but the field was closing the gap, none more so than Picot De Say who closed the gap to 2¼ lengths on the line.
Another running on contender was Kristoffersen who took third.
Nemetan, the 3/1 favourite, was always behind but running on in the final stages to finish fifth.
3:50  A very eventful contest for our fourth contest, a 2m 3f 110yd chase.
Jolejoker and Sula’s Legend were the front runners, with the favourite Craven tracking the front pair.
As they turned for home Craven took up the running with Sula’s Legend tracking, Aheadofhistime was running on well and Rash Moment under McCoy was making eye catching progress.
Four out Craven began to tire and was rejoined up front by Sula’s Legend and he quickly took up the running.
Craven slowed dramatically and as they approached the second last Sula’s Legend led with Aheadofhistime in second and Rash Moment in third.
At the second last Dula’s Legend fell leaving Aheadofhistime clear and looking the winner.
Aheadofhistime still had a good lead at the last and looked to be the winner before tiring to a virtual standstill yards from the post when passed by McCoy on Rash Moment to go down by 1¼ lengths.
Craven was 16 lengths back in third.
The race was marred by Conny Nobel collapsing with an apparent heart attack having been pulled up.
15:38  A 3m handicap chase for our third contest and a tight betting contest
The field were tightly bunched after a somewhat tardy start.
Tomillielou, Laudamus, Saddlers George and Zimbabwe were all with the pace.
Laudamus led to the fourth when Zimbabwe took up the running and were to the fore until the turn for home when several contenders ran-on.
Top Dawn and, even more impressively, Extra Bold and Merry Storm ran on relegating the front running pair who looked to have run their races.
At the open ditch, four out, Extra Bold jumped into the lead and was never headed. Top Dawn looked booked for second but approaching the last both Zimbabwe and Laudamus seemd to find a second wind and came back with late challenges.
The winner was never in any danger but Zimbabwe was running on well, closing the gap but still finishing four lengths behind the winner. Laudamus ran on to take third and Merry Storm came home fourth.
14:57  Another 2m 110yd hurdle for our second contest and certainly a much better contest than our opener.
No run away winner this time and the field were more tightly bunched, although we did have a very short priced favourite in Mount Benger who was sent off the 8/15 favourite under the champion jockey AP McCoy.
The favourite more or less led all the way, it is possible Fortification may have pushed his nose in front a couple of times during the contest but it could be described as a front running performance.
Fortification after sharing the lead dropped out of contention quickly as they turned for home.
The “challenger” ended up being Masjoor, under Jamie Moore, but he only came home five lengths behind the leader, with the prominent Critical Stage taking third another five lengths back.
14:28  It is good to know my paddock inspection skills are still working as the opening 2m 110yd hurdle ended up as a three horse contest with the two paddock picks Bella Haze and Izita Star, along with Flow Gently Along joining in the “action”.
Bella Haze set off in front, chased by the favourite Izita Star and they soon had a decent lead on their rivals.
Indeed for a 2 mile contest in good conditions the field were surprisingly well strung out as they progressed down the back straight.
Turning for home the front two in the betting were still in the lead, with Flow Gently Along in third, well clear of the remainder.
Bella Haze held onto the lead until Tom Scudamore jumped into the lead on Izita Star at the second last, the pair five lengths ahead of third.
Pulling away, then eased in the run-in Izita Star came home four lengths ahead of the long time leader with Flow Gently Along a further four and a half lengths back in third and the remainder 26 length plus further back.
To be honest little quality in depth in the race and the result exactly as expected, with the first three in the betting filling the first three places.
13:59 There are some right characters in the opener, several on their toes. Start Lady is sweating and it isn't really that hot and Neat 'n Tidy tried to demolish the parade ring rails and is very much on her toes.
The only ones that look anything like half decent are the top two in the betting Bella Haze and Izita Star.
12:25 For what it is worth here are this afternoon's selections.
2:10 2 Izita Star
2:40 6 Mount Benger
3:15 11 Zimbabwe
3:50 9 Craven
4:25 14 Nemetan
5:00 4 El Hombre Del Rio
5:30 1 Aldertune
12:21 Good afternoon from a sunny Chepstow where there is no change to the official going.
We have some decent size fields this afternoon and we have one additional non-runner. Green Belt Elite is out lame with a self certificate, in the 4:25.
18:00 Tuesday The going on Tuesday afternoon is Good, Good to Soft in places. The going stick at 15:30 this afternoon was 6.9 on the chase course and 6.7 on the hurdle course.
The weather forecast is for a clear night with a low of 2C. Tomorrow, after an early mist, there will be sunny spells with a maximum of 12C.
We already have a non-runner in the last. Zazamix is out with a vets certificate following a bad scope.
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Non-Runners
4:25
9 Green Belt Elite (lame - SC)
5:30
11 Zazamix (bad scope - VC)
Results
2:10 Mares Novice Hdl 2m 110yds
1st 2 Izita Star 5/4 fav
2nd 1 Bella Haze 3/1
3rd 5 Flow Gently Along 4/1
15 Ran
Distances 4 & 4 1/2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Places £1.10 £1.10 £1.80
Exacta £4.80
CSF £4.84
Time 4' 05.16"
2:40 Claiming Hurdle 2m 110yds
1st 6 Mount Benger 8/15 fav
2nd 1 Masjoor 12/1
3rd 7 Critical Stage 8/1
10 Ran
Distances 5 & %
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.50
Places £1.02 £3.00 £1.70
Exacta £5.60
CSF £7.37
Time 4' 07.8"
3:15 Handicap Chase 3m
1st 4 Extra Bold 9/2
2nd 11 Zimbabwe 12/1
3rd 2 Laudamus 16/1
4th 13 Merry Storm 4/1 fav
17 Ran
Distances 4, 1 & 1 1/4
Fav fourth
Tote
Win £4.50
Places £1.70 £1.90 £4.10 £1.20
Exacta £45.80
CSF £51.77
Tricast £801.81
Time 6' 15.2"
3:50 Handicap Chase 2m 3f 110yds
1st 3 Rash Moment 9/2
2nd 6 Aheadofhistime 16/1
3rd 9 Craven 4/1 fav
11 Ran
Distances 1 1/4 & 19
Fav third
Tote
Win £4.70
Places £1.90 £4.30 £1.40
Exacta £80.10
CSF £66.56
Tricast £308.67
Time 5' 12.0"
4:25 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
1st 3 Templer 14/1
2nd 6 Picot de Say 12/1
3rd 10 Kristoffersen 33/1
15 Ran Nr 9
Distances 2 1/4 & 2 1/2
Fav 14 Nemetan 3/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £18.70
Places £5.60 £3.70 £7.00
Exacta £166.30
CSF £162.08
Tricast £5,370.72
Time 4' 59.1"
5:00 Hunters Chase 3m 5f 110yds
1st 3 Trust Fund 7/4 fav
2nd 20 Holly Walk 20/1
3rd 4 El Hombre Del Rio 11/1
20 Ran
Distances 16 & 3 1/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.50
Places £1.60 £4.30 £3.20
Exacta £52.80
CSF £40.13
Time 8' 00.4"
5:30 NH Flat 2m 110yds
1st 10 Volador 5/6 fav
2nd 9 Timeshift 10/1
3rd 1 Aldertune 7/2
15 Ran NR 11
Distances 1 1/4 & 8
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.10 £2.50 £2.10
Exacta £12.40
CSF £9.57
Time 4' 02.7"
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