A GOOD crowd turned out for Chepstow’s Saturday evening meeting considering it was a very recent addition to the fixture list after being switched from Bath.

The original absence of racing was behind the decision of one couple to book Chepstow for their wedding celebrations.

When they found out there was going to be racing after all, they gamely stuck to their plans and enjoyed the races as well.

Before the last race they were interviewed in the paddock by At The Races presenter Robert Cooper, who offered to find the winner to help cover their expenses.

Eyeing the smartly-dressed groom, he suggested Macho Mover.

This was the 5/2 second favourite, and with half-a-mile to go he appeared to have little hope with all 10 opponents in front of him.

That didn’t worry young jockey Scott McCullagh, who skilfully navigated a path through the field and got a gap on the rail at a timely moment to take the lead in the last 50 yards.

David Evans’ The Establishment had been knocking on the door in his four races to date and on Saturday, with the benefit of a wind operation, he opened his account in a maiden.

He made all the running but had to hold off a less experienced opponent and, based on this performance, his handicap mark is high enough.

Ron Harris is in good form – his last four runners have finished 1-2-2-1.

Two of them, Powerful Dream and Glamorous Rocket, finished first and second at Wolverhampton on Thursday.

The latter appeared two days later at Chepstow – and ran as if rocket-propelled for the first four furlongs, only to falter in the fifth and be collared by Airglow in the last couple of strides.

It was only the sixth runner on the course from Mick Easterby’s Yorkshire stable in 30 years.

Harris went one better later that evening with Fantasy Justifier, who led on the very last stride to deprive Malcolm Saunders’ frontrunner Showmethewayavrilo.

Ridden by David Probert, it was the horse’s first win in more than two years.

George Baker rode him on that occasion, when he was rated 69 – he was down to 48 at Chepstow this time.

Harris confirmed he was a tricky horse to get right and needs to be produced late as he idles in front.

Probert secured a satisfying victory aboard Teenage Gal on Thursday evening at Chepstow.

He was busy some way out on her and through sheer persistence got up in the last few strides.

Earlier, a gamble on Evans’ Bond Angel from 6/1 to 3/1 nearly came off, as the filly hit the front with a quarter-of-a-mile to go.

One leniently-handicapped rival came from behind to lead entering the final furlong, and though Bond Angel rallied, she went down by a neck.

Milton Bradley managed a second place later in the evening with Indian Affair, who was having his 119th race.

Incredibly, he has been in the frame on 51 occasions.

He’s a bit below his last winning mark on turf and fully 10 pounds below his last all-weather win, so his turn might not be far away. He’s due to run at Brighton this afternoon.

They say there’s no peace for the wicked, and Chepstow has another meeting on Thursday afternoon.

There’s another on Bank Holiday Monday, which is a Family Day with seven races and a full and varied programme of entertainment for children.