CHEPSTOW Racecourse's first meeting of 2015 took place in bright sunshine, with the going heavy.

The opening race, a two mile (m) four furlong (f) novices hurdle, was run at a dawdle. As a result there were eight in with a chance at the second to last jump, soon after which the Alan King-trained Chosen Well took the lead.

This winner of an Irish point-to-point was clear at the last and stayed on well under Wayne Hutchinson, seemingly good value for his three length triumph over Wait A Second.

In the 2m novices chase, the favourite Sail By The Sea led all the way and won unchallenged for the David Pipe-Tom Scudamore team despite not jumping particularly fluently. His only possible rival, All But Grey, was the ten lengths runner-up.

The Eider Chase winner and Grand National possible Wyck Hill made his seasonal reappearance in the 3m novices hurdle. He ran with great credit but had to give best to Mackerye End after an exciting tussle from the second to last jump. Richard Johnson, riding for Jonjo O'Neill, had a length and three quarters to spare at the post.

The 16/1 outsider Come On Annie sprang a surprise in the 2m4f chase. She probably benefitted from being held up by Conor O'Farrell off a comparatively strong pace. Travelling strongly at the fifth last, she soon saw off Long John and won quite easily. The six length winner was trained by Alexandra Dunn.

There was a good finish to the 2m4f handicap hurdle. The grey Qalinas, always prominent, set sail for home half a mile out but a blunder two jumps out gave hope to his four closest pursuers.

The Richard Woollacott-trained Cash Injection capitalised on this, Noel Fehily squeezing him through a gap on the stand rail to lead with half a furlong left. Qalinas rallied, but not quite enough. Victory was by half a length.

They finished well strung out in the 3m chase. Fourovakind, from the Harry Whittington yard, led or disputed the lead before pressing on entering the straight. Gunna Be A Devil tried to go with him for a while, but the winner out-jumped and out-stayed him to the tune of 23 lengths.

Noel Fehily completed a double in the bumper courtesy of Silent Alliance, who drew up to the leader Oskar's Eva three furlongs out, led with a furlong to go and ran on well to score by a length and a half. David Dennis trained the winner.