Last Friday's (14th June) meeting at Chepstow Racecourse, with the Madness concert after racing, took place on an evening which began in brightness and although rain set in halfway through the card, it did not dampen the spirits of a lively crowd.

The going was good to soft. There were doubles for trainers Bernard Llewellyn and Malcolm Saunders and a treble for champion jockey Richard Hughes, which made five on the day for him.

A six furlongs race for two-year-olds went to the Nottingham winner Legend Rising (2/5 fav) for the respected Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes combination.

Brought to the near side to take the lead two out, when asked to lengthen the colt strode four-and-a-half lengths clear of Piazon.

Next came a maiden handicap, again over six furlongs. The two longest-priced horses in the field, both from the Leicestershire yard of Derek Shaw, went clear with a furlong to go. Queen Hermione (18/1) finished two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Farmers Prince.

Seven-pound claimer Adam McLean was riding the sixth winner of his career.

They hugged the stands rail during the one-mile handicap. When a gap appeared three off the rail with a quarter of a mile to go, Richard Hughes brought Lady Bayside (15/8 fav) through and she hit the front just inside the final furlong.

Malcolm Saunders's mare stayed on well to see off the second favourite Emmuska by one-and-a-half lengths.

Malcolm Saunders scored again with Sarangoo (11/2), ridden by Cathy Gannon. They collared the clear leader Swendab at the furlong pole and had two lengths to spare over the chasing group, which was led by Emiratesdotcom.

The field drifted from the stands side to the far rail during the last half of the race.

As usual, runners kept to the far rail for the finish of races begun on the round course.

Four horses from the Bernard Llewellyn yard contested the two-mile handicap, and it was his Tijori (8/1) that took the lead 50 yards from the post, but only just held on from the fast finishing Jezza.

This concluded a stirring battle between half a dozen horses that were in contention through the last three furlongs.

A mile-and-a-half maiden race followed, where Sir Michael Stoute's runner Auld Alliance was made the 5/6 favourite.

She led from the start and though Gertrude Gray came alongside two out, the visored-first-time filly kept pulling out more for Richard Hughes and saw out the trip the best. The first four finished clear and may be worth following.

The final race looked to be a close-knit 10-furlong handicap but when Play Street (7/1) took the lead three out the result was never in doubt, even when apprentice jockey Matthew Lawson eased up and let May Be Some Time get within a neck of him.

Tempuran was third under a hands and heels ride after being very slowly away. Jonathan Portman trained the winner.

Jim Beavis