THE going was soft on this mainly sunny mid-September afternoon, 15th September.

The opener was a 7f maiden for two-year-olds and previous experience of soft ground proved invaluable. Cosmeapolitan (3/1) relished the conditions and took the lead approaching the final furlong, going away to win by a comfortable four lengths for Alan King and Jim Crowley. Able Jack plugged on into second with the Monmouthshire-trained long-time leader Donttouchthechips hanging on to third at odds of 100/1.

A 7f maiden for older horses went to a gelded newcomer who cost 155,000 guineas as a yearling. Predominance (5/2), from the William Haggas yard that does so well here, could not have had an easier introduction. After Jimmy Fortune gently asked him to make progress two out, he hit the front with a furlong to go and strolled to a six length victory over New Stream.

Course and distance winner Aqua Ardens (14/1) recapturing some of the good form he showed last autumn, with Liam Keniry bringing him through the field to lead 150 yards out. He just held on from Davids Park, a head being the margin of success for the George Baker gelding. Recent course victors Peak Storm and Sarangoo were well beaten.

David Evans’s Hillgrove Angel (11/10 fav) grabbed his third seller in as many months over 1m2f. Tom Marquand sent him to the front two out and went clear. Whitchurch ran on to fill the runner-up berth three and a half lengths in arrears. Not surprisingly the winner’s performance attracted attention at the auction, where he was sold for 11,500 guineas to be trained in Scotland.

Having his third run for local trainer Bernard Llewellyn, Borak (4/1) took the 1m4f handicap under Cathy Gannon in good style. Though not getting the clearest of runs, there was enough in the tank to wait for the gaps and then to switch off the rail in order to pass Late Shipment in the last half furlong. A career over hurdles as well as the flat beckons for the length and a quarter winner.

Bridgend trainer John Flint got onto the scoreboard with Ayla’s Emperor (11/4 fav) in the 1m2f finale. It was a close-run thing, for having dashed into the lead two out and being driven three lengths clear by Daniel Muscutt, she wandered about under pressure and her advantage was rapidly whittled away by Invincible Wish until she had only a neck to spare.