THE Bernard Llewellyn stable hit peak form at Chepstow last week, when they had their third winner in three days.

In the mares’ race, Shadow’s Girl looked destined for a place at best, but by virtue of the leader blundering at the final obstacle and her jockey Richard Johnson’s persistence, she was able to grab the advantage and hang on to it till the winning post.

The first run over fences of The Worlds End was the highlight of the day. Already a three-time course winner, he jumped well and stayed on well to suggest he will be a force to be reckoned with among this year’s three mile novice chasers.

With rain about and the going likely to ease, some big fields are likely on today’s Chepstow card. There are two maiden hurdles, and at this time of year the first three or four in these races can be the sort to put in the notebook in anticipation of further progress.

Evan Williams’ Tossapenny sets the standard thanks to some good performances in similar events last season.

David Probert spent some of last winter riding in India and Qatar and when he returned to this country, winners were a shade elusive, at least by his standards, to begin with.

Since June, however, normal service has been resumed and he’s clocked up a total of 84 this calendar year so far, including a double at Kempton on Friday.

The turf season ends this weekend and though the all-weather is about to take over, there are fewer meetings than in midsummer and winners are harder to come by. He’ll do well to beat his 2017 total of 94, but he’s giving himself every chance to do so. Yesterday he was riding at Wolverhampton in the afternoon and Kempton in the evening. Today he’s at Nottingham and Chelmsford.

It’s already Probert’s best year as regards prize money earned, with over £1.2 million to his credit. The biggest contributor was Tip Two Win, the runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas. He ran as if something was amiss at Glorious Goodwood and hasn’t been out since.

“He owes us nothing this year,” said his trainer Roger Teal. “I wouldn’t mind a tilt at the Lockinge early next season and that is the first thing that springs to mind for him. His owner is keen to keep going with him for another year or two.” Something for Probert to look forward to!

Foxtrot Lady, for his main trainer Andrew Balding, was his second biggest earner due to landing a valuable handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting. That month he won the Lancashire Oaks on Horseplay, beating a horse called God Given, who in Italy on Sunday became the final Group 1 winner of Luca Cumani’s 43-year training career.

David Evans must have thought his long losing run was over when Mr Top Hat made the running in a mile handicap at Newmarket on Saturday and battled on gamely to repel his opponents – until one of them put his head in front on the very last stride. That made it 53 runs and 43 days since the stable had a winner. Perhaps one of his eight runners yesterday – followed by five more today – will break the spell.