THE horses of Coedkernew trainer Craig Roberts are in a rich vein of form with another win at Chepstow Racecourse.

And he'll almost certainly be targeting more victories at the racecourse's next meeting which is on 'Easter Tuesday' - bang in the middle of the school holidays and a great day out for all the family at the penultimate fixture of the 2005/6 jump racing season.

Last Saturday, top jockey Andrew Thornton might have expected to have been at Aintree for the Grand National. But there was no ride for the former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider, so he partnered Sou'Wester to victory in the John Smith's "No Nonsense" Selling Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow.

The downside was that the horse was purchased at the post-race auction, but Craig is now targeting the Scottish Grand National at Ayr Racecourse a week on Saturday with his stable star Victory Gunner which won over hurdles on Coral Welsh National day 15 months ago.

A fine fourth place in the Midlands Grand National three weeks ago showed the horse's quality and his ability to stay long distances.

Another Welsh trainer prospering near Coedkernew is Paul Blockley, so much so that he's opening a satellite training yard at Lambourn in Berkshire.

Sixteen two-year-old horses have made the journey down the M4 as the good times roll for the horse racing industry in this corner of South East Wales.

Back luck to Pembrokeshire trainer Peter Bowen whose horse Ballycassidy fell six fences from home in the Grand National while leading the field. What might have been!

Racing begins at Chepstow Racecourse on 'Easter Tuesday' 18 April at 2.20pm. More details about racing at Chepstow are available on website www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk; alternatively contact the Racecourse Office on 01291 622260.