THE weather was fine and the going good to soft, good in places, for Chepstow's Easter Monday meeting, where some decent sized fields turned out and Sean Bowen rode a treble.

The Dan Skelton-trained Mister Grez, more often seen over fences these days, was made the 2/1 favourite for the 2 mile novices' hurdle but it was he who gave his backers some grey hairs.

Sean Bowen moved him smoothly into the lead on the home turn, only to be headed by Loch Garman two out.

That one abruptly ran out of stamina, and they were both passed by King Alfonso, who was a length up and going well when coming down just after jumping the last hurdle. Mister Grez ran out a fortunate nine length winner.

The betting suggested the 2m4f mares' hurdle was a match but Midnight Jazz (2/1) made most of the running and, though headed on the home turn, she reasserted from the third last and galloped on stoutly for a comfortable 10 length victory from the favourite, Princess Tara. Daryl Jacob rode the winner for Ben Case.

A mistake at the sixth last did not perturb Paddy Brennan on Until Winning (7/4 fav), who waited until after the next before taking the lead in the 2m4f novices' chase.

Pushed on into a clear advantage, he had no serious challengers from that point and finished seven lengths ahead of Lac Sacre. Tom George trained the winner.

There was an exciting climax to the 2m4f handicap hurdle with Signed Request and Dashaway battling it out from before the second last. Under Jeremiah McGrath Signed Request (9/2) gained a slender lead after the last and was all out to hold on by a neck, with Robbie Rabbit finishing fast to take third place half a length away. The winner was trained by Henry Oliver.

The veteran Carruthers, a former Hennessy winner and from the same stable as the Gold Cup winner Coneygree, was the main focus of the 3m chase.

He led from the fourth until being joined on the home turn by the Nigel Hawke-trained Samingarry (13/2), who edged into the lead before kicking for home four out.

None of his rivals could get in a serious blow and James Best brought him home five lengths ahead of Velator.

The 3m hurdle was another open-looking race yet Peter Bowen's Sandynow (3/1 fav), who travelled ominously well, cruised into the lead before the penultimate flight and with Sean Bowen motionless in the saddle, he cantered away to an 18 length success. Pennant Dancer belatedly grabbed second from W Six Times.

The day ended with another 3m chase and another Peter and Sean Bowen winner. Cruising Bye (2/1 fav) was indeed cruising for most of the last mile, but made some critical errors four out and three out. This made it much harder to overhaul the gallant The Cat's Away, who only capitulated halfway up the run-in. One length was the margin of victory.