'I've had worse days!' - David Evans bags 302-1 hat-trick at Chepstow

Chepstow's meeting began in style for trainer David Evans as he landed a 302-1 hat-trick in authoritative fashion on Thursday.

The trainer sent out the first three winners of the seven-race card, with Almost An Angel opening the account in the mile handicap under Evans' regular rider Darragh Keenan.

Keenan, who had gone 55 rides without a winner, ended his losing streak with flair by landing a quickfire double with 16-1 Manumission in the 6f handicap.

Evans said: "I thought I could have five good runners today, and when you have a lot of runners and you fancy all of them you're bound to be let down, but at least it started off good. I've had worse days!

"Darragh's level-headed, doesn't let success go to his head and deserves to do well. He rode a lot for me last winter and stayed over last night and rode out this morning. Sometimes it's difficult with owners when jockeys lose their claim, but he's a nice kid and is improving all the time."

Darragh Keenan: landed his second win this year on Almost An Angel in the opening raceCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The treble was completed thanks to Blue Moonrise, with the "temperamental" filly proving a challenge for jockey Gina Mangan to get down to the start but then settling well to land the 5f handicap by a neck.

Evans, who spent the day away from the racecourse at his yard in Monmouthshire, hopes his winning momentum can carry into Friday as he saddles stable star Rohaan in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

"It would be very nice to take this form to the Nunthorpe," Evans added.

"Rohaan disappointed me in France last time but maybe the trip was a bit too far combined with the travelling. As long as it's not too quick he'll run."

'The kidneys are fine, which is amazing given what I'd done to them'

Bountiful win for Blake

Right Action almost added a fourth win to Evans' tally, but it was Bounty Pursuit who proved a popular winner in the first division of the 7f handicap as he repeated his 2019 success to win by a neck.

The nine-year-old was the first winner for trainer Michael Blake since April and recorded his eighth career victory in the pink silks of Racing For A Cause, a three-horse syndicate which raises money for charity.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more from the racecourse:

'I don't know why they write him off' – 50-1 Runninwild causes another big shock

'I just hooked her on' – Hayley Turner saves fellow jockey in stalls incident

'I don't know what's happened' – chaos at bend gifts Oisin Murphy win

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