CHEPSTOW’S meeting on Friday features a classy three-mile novice chase.

The initial entries include Colin Tizzard’s 150-rated Vision Des Flos, who’s been keeping exalted company in Grade 1s and 2s. Last time out, on his chasing debut, he ran much too freely and finished lame, but was still only eight lengths behind Champ.

Next best on ratings is Mulcahys Hill, whose Cheltenham novice chase win encouraged punters to make him favourite for the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences.

Among the other possible contenders, Evan Williams has the Welsh National fourth Prime Venture, and the Rucker-owned Present Value, who is three years younger, has won over hurdles at Chepstow and has the scope to improve for a step up in trip. He could be the each way value.

Unusually, there’s a maiden hurdle there with just six entries. Nevertheless, they are quite a useful bunch, and if Kid Commando or Kingsplace run, they will set the standard.

The first of six races gets under way at 1.10. Admission is only £12 if booked in advance, and there’s still time to take advantage of the offer of a two-course carvery meal in the restaurant for only £45, including admission and a racecard.

Three winners for David Evans in the last week proves that it’s business as usual at the busy Pandy yard. Barking Mad scrambled home by a short head at Kempton last Wednesday, with the trainer’s old ally Adam Kirby on board. The pair combined to good effect at Chelmsford the next day with the three-year-old Zulu Zander, a horse that is relatively lightly raced by Evans stable standards. Having his tenth start, he scored for the third time. Kirby’s record on him is 3-4.

Then, in a claimer at Wolverhampton on Monday, the unpredictable Kodiline came out on top by a head and a short head. He’d won for the first time in almost two years when taking a Lingfield seller last month before proceeding to run badly there twice. The first-time blinkers he wore at the Midlands track must have geed him up, but whether they will work again is another matter.

Milton Bradley got off the mark for the year when Satchville Flyer won at Kempton a week ago. His 20/1 SP was on the skinny side if you looked at his form figures, for he hadn’t been in the winners enclosure since May 2018. That was the last of seven races he won when trained by David Evans. In the autumn he was sold to an owner of Bradley’s, who must have wondered if he’d done the right thing having then proceeded to run six times unplaced. In this Kempton race he showed some early speed, and after being reined back, responded well when asked for a late effort, getting up to win by a short head.

David Probert kept up the momentum of his good start to 2020 by riding winners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That brings his total for the year to six, and will help compensate for the six-day ban he was recently given by the Kempton stewards. His enforced holiday begins on Saturday. He has plenty of rides booked between now and then.