THIS Tuesday evening’s meeting at Chepstow Racecourse took place in damp conditions.

It was a time for watching horses’ actions going to the start to see if they would handle the soft going. It was tough for punters too, with four of the seven races going to outsiders at double-figure odds.

Hedging (7/4 fav), third here recently, won the two-year-old race over 6f. He made steady progress from the rear of the leading group yet didn’t look winning until inside the last half furlong, when he stayed on to good effect. Ultimately he beat Bazwind by only half a length, but he had a bit in hand. Hedging was trained by Eve Johnson Houghton and ridden by John Fahy.

The 6f handicap produced a 14/1 success for local trainer David Evans. His Satchville Flyer was going well two out when he took the lead and shot clear as if jet-propelled to win by six lengths from Consistant, Jacksonfire and a host of others in vain pursuit. Though he hung left towards the far rail, Kieran Shoemark can rarely have had such a wide-margin victory in a sprint. The Tricast (naming the 1-2-3 in correct order) paid over 10,000/1.

Next came a 7f maiden. Donnelly’s Rainbow (12/1), a cast-off from a major Newmarket yard now in the care of North Yorkshire trainer Rebecca Bastiman, was to most of us a surprise winner on this, his racecourse debut. Despite that he travelled well and didn’t need maximum effort from Barry McHugh to lead inside the last quarter mile. He was heavily eased to limit his victory over Spinners Ball to a length and a half.

The fourth race was a handicap over one mile. On her first attempt on soft going, Andrew Balding’s Lorelina (25/1) regained the form she showed a year ago. She challenged the pace-setting Finelcity throughout the penultimate furlong before taking the lead and running on to a decisive two length success. Eddie Greatrex did the steering.

The first race on the round course tonight was a two-miler, starting near the stands. The field featured several familiar faces and it was the three-time course winner Medburn Cutler (13/8 fav) who provided punters with some relief by scoring comfortably. He tracked the long-time leader Fitzwilly until two out, when Franny Norton decided to go for home. He dashed five clear before easing up to keep the winning distance down to three lengths. Soft going is important for Medburn Cutler, and he should get it at Sandown on Friday if turned out there.

The bookies bounced back with Bernisdale, the 14/1 winner of the 1m4f handicap. John Flint’s eight-year-old was up with the pace until moving ahead two out. The second favourite Ring Eye looked set to overtake her but the leader proved very game and was a short head in front at the line. It was the 20th victory of the year for apprentice Daniel Muscutt, equalling his best score in a full calendar year. The hot favourite Mexican Mick was a disappointing fifth.

Rebecca Bastiman and Barry McHugh completed doubles with Indian Chief, whose starting price of 5/1 didn’t reflect his chance based on any recent form figures. His backers were handsomely rewarded, though, for he cruised past Approaching Star a furlong and a half out to romp home by six lengths. It could just as easily have been ten. He might run again on Saturday.