MORE than 4,000 people made their way to Chepstow on Friday for Caribbean Night, one of their most popular evening meetings.

Though the heatwave had broken and dark clouds threatened, it stayed dry and racegoers enjoyed seven races followed by a concert from the Bob Marley tribute band, the Trenchtown Experience.

It was apt that Mister Musicmaster was the first winner on the card.

The star turn on the track was Quantum Dot’s achievement in taking the five furlong handicap. This was his third course and distance victory of 2018 and his sixth in all. He made all the running for his first five, so it was a surprise to see him come from behind this time and take the lead with less than a furlong to go. He won a little cosily, and might be ahead of the handicapper.

Quantum Dot is now the winning-most horse at Chepstow this season, and his efforts have helped put Herefordshire trainer Ed de Giles in pole position as leading course trainer this year with six winners so far.

There was success for Ron Harris, who trains just a few miles from the course, in the seven furlong handicap. His filly Glamorous Dream led from the outset and seemed to enjoy bossing the small field from the front.

Harris often books local jockey David Probert and he was on board on this occasion. When he encouraged his mount to find more two furlongs out she extended her advantage to four lengths.

It was her second career victory – she won at Salisbury six weeks ago with Probert up – and while it was a fairly weak race, she’s only three years old and entitled to find some more improvement. She’s owned by Robert and Nina Bailey, who have the horses with Glamorous in their names. Glamorous Rocket has won three times this year for them.

Probert rode his 2,000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood yesterday. The horse was taking on his elders for the first time, and though he should have been helped by the drop to seven furlongs and down into Group 2 company he was unable to resume winning ways.

Time For Champers, who is entered at Bangor on Friday, would be an interesting runner for Nikki Evans. The mare has been off the course for a year. At Towcester in May 2017 she was as short as 15/2 for a two mile handicap hurdle and finished second, beaten a head. The comment in the form book reads “effort going well to join leader 3 out, ridden to go 3 lengths clear after next, kept hanging badly left after, caught final strides, threw it away.” Imagine the range of emotions Evans and Hanford’s Chemist Ltd, the owner of Time For Champers, must have felt watching those last few furlongs.

The fact that they have kept the horse suggests they think they can recapture her ability and handle her quirks. They could be in for an exciting day at Bangor, and if they’ve got her fit and well it really could be time for champers.