CHEPSTOW Racecourse continued to show its support for 1RIFLES, based in Chepstow, with its annual Rifles Race Day, held on Saturday 23rd February.

A spokesman at 1RIFLES said: "By all accounts the raceday was enjoyed by all, even in the chilly conditions.

"We at 1RIFLES hugely respect and appreciated the support the local community has shown us over our last six years in Chepstow.

"Our thanks go firstly to Knight Frank for their incredibly generous sponsorship, to Chepstow Racecourse for taking The Rifles to heart and to Jennie Humphreys for her tireless support."

Sadly, the day raised only £169 for the Rifles charity, Care for Casualties, which helps the severely wounded, their families and the families of fallen Riflemen with support, the inspiration and the means to rebuild their lives.

If you would like to donate to this crucial local cause, visit http://www.careforcasualties.org.uk">www.careforcasualties.org.uk

The Rifles Race Day was packed with fine sporting action, with the afternoon's feature race, the £25,000 Rifles Handicap Chase Supported By Knight Frank (For The Bombay Hunt Cup) attracting a field of top class two mile handicappers.

These included the winner of last year's inaugural running, the Alan King trained Oh Crick, and course and distance winner Oiseau de Nuit, both former winners of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, they had to give best to the younger generation who were led home by seven-year-old Ballygarvey owned by The Dark Horse Syndicate who were the proud recipients of The Bombay Hunt Cup presented by 1RIFLES Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Karl Hickman MC.

Ballygarvey's three previous successes had come at Lingfield, his trainer Philip Hobbs said: "I suppose we are quite relieved that he is not just a Lingfield horse as he did little wrong today and is a horse with plenty of pace, so the step back to two miles was not a problem."

The statistics were all against him but Safran De Cotte ended trainer Henry Daly's winner famine at Chepstow when staying on stoutly to defy De La Bech in the three mile Novices' Chase. Daly had not visited the winners' circle here for 2,142 days and said: "I think my last horse to win here was Coursing Run way back in the mists of time, but the last big one I sent here was, of course, Edmond, who won the Welsh National in 1999."

Of Safran De Cotte he added: "Not many horses win three novices' chases in a season and we came here purely because the race conditions were really in his favour and he wants plenty of cut in the ground."

Shammick Boy's tenacious victory over Whitby Jack in the 2m1/2f handicap hurdle confirmed the Victor Dartnall yard is finally putting the horrors of an equine herpes attack behind them. Dartnall's brother Gerald was on saddling-up duty and said: "This has been the worst winter we have ever endured with our gallop getting washed away and then the herpes outbreak that struck the yard in November. I don't think anyone will mind us having a winner or two after that and Shammick Boy has prospered on the better ground. The hope is that he'll go on from here."

He is entered in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

There was a plunge in the betting ring for the Colin Tizzard trained Virginia Ash, who was slashed from an early show of 5-1 to 11-4 favourite before he held off Cheat The Cheater to land the three mile Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Tizzard's representative Richard Young said: "He ran very flat at Huntingdon last time where I don't think the course suited him as he is all about stamina, and this track played to his strengths."

Although a cold afternoon, the combination of quality racing accompanied by fanfares from the buglers of 1RIFLES, a real ales marquee sponsored by Bath Ales where Irish band Murphy's Marbles entertained race goers, and the Six Nations game between Italy and Wales being shown live on the big screen provided great entertainment throughout the day.

Senior Clerk Of The Course, Keith Ottesen said: "There has been a great atmosphere on course today and we are delighted that we have had a good turn out from the crowd. We are looking forward to our next meeting on Saturday 9th March when there will be a Cheltenham Festival Preview with panellists including Mick Fitzgerald, Paul Nicholls's assistant Dan Skelton, and trainer Evan Williams which is open to all on the day."