CHEPSTOW Racecourse has been busier than ever lately due to being allocated two fixtures from Bath.

The ground there has been so firm that a dearth of runners has limited the competitiveness of the sport.

The first extra meeting was last Thursday, when Ron Harris’s Broadhaven Honey led a one-two-three of locally-trained horses in the five furlong handicap.

Chris Mason’s Jaganory was second and Gloucestershire trainer John O’Shea’s Swendab was third.

The placed horses are familiar sights at Chepstow – Jaganory was running there for the 18th time while it was Swendab’s 20th appearance.

There is usually at least one suitable race for sprinters on each card and it makes economic sense for trainers to run their horses locally, especially if the owners live nearby too.

The 25/1 shot Jacksonfire astonished bookies and punters by winning the opener last Thursday, having failed to pass the post first in any of his previous 36 starts.

He could run again at Chepstow on Thursday or Saturday.

Victory Chime was a game winner over one-mile-and-a-quarter and could go on to better things.

Sir Mark Prescott’s Praeceps, who hit form with a vengeance in the last month, won the mile-and-a-half race by nine lengths.

He is likely to run on Thursday at Beverley or Salisbury.

Thursday's meeting at Chepstow is a scheduled one and, in addition to seven races starting at 5.05pm, The Hipcats will be playing jazz during the evening on the lawn at the back of the stands.

The second extra meeting transferred from Bath is on Saturday evening and the first of seven races is due off at 4.50pm.

Shirenewton trainer Grace Harris had a rare trip to Ascot last weekend to see her best flat horse, Bungee Jump, run at the Shergar Cup.

Though the filly only finished fifth, the day’s expenses were more than covered, as she earned £2,434 in prize money.

She’s been running consistently since winning at Chepstow in May, although it looks like the handicapper has her measure at the moment.

David Evans’ Sea Fox hardly ever runs a bad race.

His only poor effort this year was when finishing lame at Chester, and he’s bounced back in no uncertain terms since then.

He’s won his last two races, most recently a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket on Saturday.

The handicapper hadn’t raised his mark after his victory at Lingfield a few weeks earlier and he was able to capitalise on that.

Sea Fox could aim for the hat-trick at Newbury this Saturday, before his inevitably higher rating takes effect.

Another splendidly consistent horse is Nikki Evans’ Maroc, who was second at Haydock on Saturday.

That’s the seventh time he’s finished in that position – and he’s been third on five occasions too – but is yet to win after 28 tries.

His gameness is not in doubt, as could be seen again when he kept on trying after his attempt to make all the running had been thwarted. His turn ought to come soon.

Nearer the other end of the scale is Ron Harris’ three-year-old filly Ticktocks.

She was beaten 81, 25 and 18 lengths in her first three races, but at Lingfield on Saturday she came in just five lengths behind the winner.

Admittedly she was only fifth of seven and still seemed a bit green, but she finished well enough to give connections hope that she could build on this.