13:00 Chepstow

Sunday 8 January 2017

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

Bathwick Tyres 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 11.6s

Admiral Kid²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

16/1

Won a bumper on debut at Fontwell (only start in that sphere). Not quite matched that form over hurdles and only completed once from three starts, fallen twice and not the best of jumpers.

Form: 31-F4

Bardd³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

6/4

Won a small-field Sandown bumper on his second start. Didn't quite match that form on his hurdling debut back at the same venue although has scope for improvement.

Form: 2/14222-

Big Windmill²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

8/1

Has won an Irish point but showed only modest form on his one bumper start. Two runs over hurdles so far bit didn't match his initial effort when below form at Newbury last time out.

Form: 14-308U

Billy Hicks⁶²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater

28/1

Runner-up in only point outing and makes his debut under Rules here. Likely to need the experience although his yard have already shown that they can train winners with a Cheltenham victory already on the board.

Form: 2/961

Du Soleil⁴¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams

11/2

Made a promising start to his career when winning a small field soft ground bumper at Haydock on his debut. Makes his debut over hurdles here but returns after a long absence and fitness may well be a concern.

Form: 1-

Elav^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

100/1

Placed just once in seven starts in points and well held in only start under Rules.

Form: P3/PP47-

Esspresso³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Moloney| T: Evan Williams

33/1

Just the one start under Rules but showed some promise (still green) when third in a maiden bumper at Ffos Las. Makes hurdling debut here and will need to improve.

Form: 30

Heluvagood^t1⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David Prichard⁽⁷⁾| T: V R A Dartnall

100/1

Well held in both starts under Rules so far with seven months in between them.

Form: 0-7

Moonlight Flyer⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott

66/1

Showed little in a bumper on debut before making hurdles his first start over hurdles last time. Shaped like a stayer in that race and probably needs further and more time to be seen at his best.

Form: 0600-

Radical Archie⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

20/1

Showed some promise on his bumper debut bit didn't build on that on his second start. Looked amiss at Lingfield and struggled from 3f out stopping very quickly. That makes him hard to support here.

Form: 4

Restraint²²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: A Wintle

150/1

Not gone on from fair bumper debut and well held in two starts since.

Form: 6/80

Russian Service²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey

25/1

Modest form in only start in bumpers. Had two starts over hurdles and ran a fair race last time out. Looked to be a work in progress and could be the sort to do better in handicaps once he has a mark.

Form: 1-3

Zero Grand⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 115

11/4

Has shown a steady progression in four runs over hurdles so far and did well on latest start back from a break at Uttoxeter in a race that is working out well. Has the ability to win a race such as this or if sent into handicaps.

Form: 9563-

Non-Runners

Cake de L'Isle⁵⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: R P McLernon

Cona River²⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Aidan Coleman

Glance Back²⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Mrs E Bishop J: James Banks

Forecasts

Bardd (6/4), Zero Grand (11/4), Du Soleil (11/2), Big Windmill (8/1), Admiral Kid (16/1), Cake de L'Isle (16/1), Radical Archie (20/1), Russian Service (25/1), Cona River (25/1), Billy Hicks (28/1), Esspresso (33/1), Moonlight Flyer (66/1), Heluvagood (100/1), Elav (100/1), Restraint (150/1), Glance Back (150/1)

The race that ZERO GRAND was fourth in at Uttoxeter is working out well and is starting to look a strong piece of form that should see him go close. Bardd looks sure to improve on his Sandown debut and should be in the mix here while the unknown quantity is the unbeaten bumper winner Du Soleil. Not seen since November 2015 it would appear that his connections have been patient with him and that patience could be rewarded. Both Russian Service and Admiral Kid can play their part although the former will be better off in handicaps and the latter needs to brush up his jumping technique. 1. Zero Grand 2. Du Soleil 3. Bardd