THE going was good to firm, good in places on this sunny early autumn afternoon, 10th September.

The red hot 1/2 favourite in the first, Puzzled Look, gave her backers little cause for concern in the 7f maiden for two-year-old fillies. She was one of five in line for most of the race until Martin Lane shook her up two out and took a distinct lead. The Ralph Beckett-trained filly didn’t have a hard race to finish a length and a quarter in front of Siri.

A 7f maiden for older fillies went to the well backed second favourite, Luca Cumani’s Fei Kuai (15/8). Driven into the lead a furlong and a half out by David Probert, she came right away from the others in good style. Star of Spring finished three and a half lengths away in second place.

Richard Hannon’s juvenile runners here warrant attention and in the 5f nursery Wiley Post (9/2) responded well to being blinkered for the first time, dropped in trip and being ridden nearer to the front. Tom Marquand urged him into the lead two out and he stormed away to a five length success over Canford Belle.

There was another convincing performance in the next, a one mile nursery. Upped in distance, Senza Una Donna (9/2) came from well behind to hit the front entering the last half furlong. Fergus Sweeney only needed to push him out to beat Battle of Bosworth by two and a quarter lengths. Hughie Morrison was the winning trainer.

The first division of the 1m4f handicap was made easier for Duke of Sonning (2/1 favourite) due to the refusal of one of his main rivals to enter the stalls. Once Fergus Sweeney had driven him past Hallings Comet two out, the Alan King-trained three-year-old went clear and was able to coast home over three lengths ahead. He’ll surely be seen over hurdles in the winter.

The second division also went to a three-year-old from a jumping yard, that of David Pipe. Impulsive American (5/2 from 5/1 in the morning) made smooth headway from four out to two out, but then needed strong driving to take the lead and go a length up. Fair Comment ran on well to halve his advantage as they passed the post. That was the third winner of the day for one of this year’s star apprentices, Tom Marquand, who is now far and away the top flat jockey at Chepstow this season with 13 wins from 42 rides.