AFTER a week with no all-weather racing programmed, Ron Harris was soon back in the winners enclosure thanks to the three-year-old filly, Moneta.

She was losing her maiden tag at the 14th time of asking.

She’d had four runs since joining the Earlswood stable, most recently losing second place in the last few strides of a six furlong race. Trying five furlongs for the first time was a sound move and, having her first start on Southwell’s Fibresand surface, she made just about all the running from a handy low draw. Her previous connections had high hopes for her. Godolphin paid £78,000 for her in April 2018, only to let her go for £10,000 in December, a reminder that in racing the quickest way to a small fortune is to start with a large one.

David Probert was back in action on Saturday for one ride at Lingfield, in the 11.55, before heading for the M25, the M40 and seven mounts at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting. Mister Musicmaster, at the Surrey track, didn’t get the best of runs in fourth but, approaching his eleventh birthday without a win for 18 months, he isn’t an obvious contender to make amends. Probert’s first ride at Wolverhampton, at 4.45, came in second, and none of the others did any better. He resumes his quest for one more winner to equal his personal best of 107 at Kempton this evening.

The great form of the Bernard Llewellyn yard continues, with Flanagans Field providing their fourth winner in three weeks on Monday. The eleven-year-old hasn’t been a prolific scorer over the years, but he was dropped into selling class at Plumpton on his third run after a break, carried a low weight and had the useful five-pound claimer Charlie Price on board. The omens were good, even more so when he was backed in from 4/1 to 11/4 favourite.

Chepstow race today and Nikki Evans has booked the conditional Ben Jones for her useful hurdler Late Shipment in the second on the card, at 1.45. Jones, the son of the Ffos Las clerk of the course, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks thanks to two Saturday winners on ITV. Robert Stephens has entered Mere Anarchy in the 3.50 but his record suggests a place bet would be more prudent than a win.

Evan Williams has quite a few entries. Imperial Flem would be a serious challenger for the 2.20, though he has an alternative engagement at Warwick. His stablemate Apollo Creed should do much better than his last run if he appears in the 2.50.

After today’s racing, the next meeting there is on Saturday, December 7th, where The Wurzels will bring their own unique form of entertainment to follow a seven-race programme.

There is still time to book places at the Welsh Horse Racing Awards, which take place at the racecourse on the evening of Thursday the 28th. Ten awards are to be made and this gala occasion will be an opportunity to review the best performances of the Welsh racing fraternity over the last twelve months.