CHEPSTOW saw another strong Saturday card with the going good to soft, good in places.

There was drama in the first race when the odds-on One Track Mind swerved on the bottom bend and got rid of his jockey. This should have left the 2 mile 4

furlong novices hurdle at the mercy of the only other form candidate, the Seamus Mullins-trained Sidbury Hill (3/1).

It was hard work, though, for once he had taken the lead after the last he needed maximum encouragement from Kevin Jones to keep a short head in front of Singlefarmpayment.

Most horses with the Minella prefix seem to need a good test of stamina and this was true of Minellahalfcentury (2/1 fav), whose victory was in the 3 mile novices chase that commemorated Gold Cup and multiple Chepstow winner See More Business.

Sean Bowen sent him into the lead at halfway, kicked on at the fifth last, and despite a blunder three out, was a comfortable eight length winner over Ballyculla. This was one of four winners across the country on the day for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Binge Drinker (6/4 fav) compl-eted a four-timer in the 3 mile novices hurdle. Rebecca Curtis' charge, who led on the home turn, was strongly challenged at the last and then passed by Buckhorn Timothy, who was carrying

21lbs less.

He fought back in determined style to regain the lead and pass the post half a length in front.

Fortunes changed rapidly in the exciting closing stages of the 3 mile handicap hurdle. Audacious Plan was overtaken by Zalgarry with a hundred yards to go, only for Bygones Sovereign (4/1), who had been under pressure from a long way out, to get up in the last few strides to win by a head.

The sixth race was the Welsh Grand National Trial over 3 miles, a race that has in recent years provided clues for the big one.

There were runners from several of the big yards but they had to give best to highest-rated jumper in the Dai Burchell yard,

Rebecca's Choice (16/1).

Ridden by his usual pilot Robert Dunne, he took the lead off Amigo two out and held off a persistent challenge to score by three

quarters of a length.

The final race was a bumper, and Sean Bowen rode his second winner of the day on Thunder And Rain (5/2 fav), trained by his father Peter. He travelled well, taking up the running halfway up the straight but needed cajoling in the final furlong to repel the

staying-on Ballyrath.

The next Chepstow meeting is on Saturday 27th December, when Wales's biggest race, the Coral Welsh Grand National, will be the highlight.