THE Racing League in Britain is finely poised at the halfway stage after Wales & The West whittled away The East’s lead on a rainy night at Chepstow, when things were also delayed by a flock of sheep straying on to the racetrack. Ireland endured a difficult evening after David O’Meara’s five runners failed to make it to the track due to a broken down horsebox.

Team manager Kevin Blake said on ATR: “It has been a grim evening. It is just one of those black swan events. For it to happen when you are really relying on one trainer, with five out of our 13 declarations, is pretty disastrous. I spoke to David earlier and he said we’ll get it back at Newcastle and Southwell.”

The East started the evening with a three-figure advantage over the chasing teams, but Chris Hughes’ side now sit just 7.5 points clear of Wales & The West after mustering only six runners across the seven races. Hughes said: “We have kept ourselves in it and that was the plan tonight. Windsor, Newcastle and Southwell, we will be strong. They are accessible tracks for us and we have a few horses lined up already. It will be all systems go again.”

Saffie Osborne was once again the star of the show for Wales & The West as she delivered a three-timer on Brian Meehan’s Von Baer, the Ed Walker-trained Fantasy Believer, and Michael Bell’s Carrytheone.

These results move Osborne to the top of the Racing League jockey standings as she bids to claim the title for the third successive year.

Oisin Murphy played a leading role for London & The South on his first Racing League appearance of the year, helping Matt Chapman’s team into third place on 374 points.

The three-time champion jockey was successful on the Richard Hannon-trained Gisburn in the six-furlong handicap and Andrew Balding’s Lieber Power in the 12-furlong handicap.

London & The South enjoyed three winners in total, with Charlie Bishop guiding Great Acclaim to victory in the opening contest for Eve Johnson Houghton.

Yorkshire was the only other team to register a winner as Tim Easterby’s Manila Scouse delivered a repeat win in the five-furlong handicap, following up last year’s success under David Allan.