Chepstow will be at its Sunday best for this year's festival of racing

ANS of jump racing tend to love this time of year and entries for Chepstow’s three-day meeting this week have whetted the appetite.

- With JAMES BURN

Newly branded as the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival, the fixture, which starts on Friday, used to be a two-day affair, but a Sunday slot has been created this year, meaning enthusiasts of the sport have plenty to get stuck into.

More than £500,000 in prize-money is on offer and a number of intriguing horses are in contention to run.

They include Knappers Hill, a Grade 2 winner for Paul Nicholls, but off for nearly two years.

He has been entered in the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle, which is the highlight of Saturday’s bill. It has attracted 28 entries and among them are five from Dan Skelton’s powerful Warwickshire stable.

‘The pick of his contenders appears to be Royal Infantry, but expect him to have many more chances given he has 43 entries across the three afternoons.

‘Another noteworthy possible for the Silver Trophy is Thisistheway, who hails from the unheralded County Wexford base of Yvonne Latta. Her six-year-old is an improver who won at the Punchestown Festival in the spring, so would have claims.