16:00 Chepstow

Sunday 8 January 2017

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

Bathwick Tyres Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 5m 6.5s

The Mad Well^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

50/1

Twice a winner in Ireland but has shown very little for his current yard and although he drops in grade today would need more to take this.

Form: 0P9003

Poisoned Berry⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 114

33/1

Won her penultimate start at Exeter in novice company but appeared to be found out by the testing conditions under a penalty at Lingfield. Now steps into handicap company for the first time off a reasonable mark.

Form: 2-14615

Horseguardsparade^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 114

14/1

Still a maiden over hurdles and had has had plenty of chances to get off the mark in novice and handicap company. Turned in a decent effort last time out but would need to better that to score here.

Form: 5720-3P

Swincombe Toby³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 114

20/1

His mark doesn't look a harsh one but he's not really gone on from his Exeter second in November when coming back from a break. Disappointed last time out and would need more here to take a hand.

Form: 8/3237-

Allez Vic¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: C J Maher⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 112

16/1

Useful over fences despite never having won in that sphere and switches back to hurdles here off a higher mark. Hard to know what to expect on this return to the smaller obstacles and the losing run continues to pile up.

Form: 03-5485

Hill Fort^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 112

10/1

Fair handicap hurdler who takes a step back in class here after running at Cheltenham last time out. This trip may stretch him though, especially on this stamina sapping surface.

Form: 96420-2

Western Wave⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: D Loder| OR: 112

9/2

Had a hard race when winning on his penultimate start at Carlisle but the hard race appeared to take its toll last time out when well beaten at Doncaster. Comes back from a break here after that run and still capable of running well in a race such as this.

Form: 4/34140-

Major Hindrance⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 110

20/1

Just the three runs over hurdles so far the best coming at Uttoxeter on his second start. Makes his handicap debut here and this test will suit him much better than the sharp 2m that he ran over last time. Should make an impact in handicaps although the mark might be a little higher than connections wanted.

Form: 8

Lydstep Point^t1³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Moloney| T: Jan Mathias| OR: 110

66/1

Won a handicap chase at Ffos Las in November 2014 but very lightly raced since and hard to seeing him making much impact here.

Form: 23P1/8P

Lord Adare^t³⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 109

66/1

Won a Limerick hurdle in April 2014 but shown very little of late.

Form: 2UFP9-0

Cobolobo²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

16/1

No surprise to see a market reaction for this one after showing promise on all his runs so far in novice company. Shaped far better than the bare result last time out when fourth at Leicester (not ideally placed) and no surprise to see a more positive performance here on handicap debut given the connections.

Form: 75412

Greyed A⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 109

13/8

Showed steady progression for his current stable winning a Lingfield handicap last time out after going close on handicap debut the time before at Sedgefield. Sort that the yard do well with and further progress can't be ruled out.

Form: 634-621

Mountain Of Mourne^b1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 108

20/1

Now back below his last winning mark over hurdles (Win came over C&D off 111) and wears the blinkers for the first time. Two lack lustre runs over fences of late though and will need to show more zip here.

Form: 505323-

Never Learn²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108

8/1

Best form over hurdles came at Chepstow on his penultimate outing when a decent third. Below that form last time out on handicap debut and will need to improve here to take a hand.

Form: 97P-73

Lac Sacre^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R Flint| T: J L Flint| OR: 107

20/1

Fair hurdler but is on a long losing run and hasn't really built on some recent promise over hurdles. Well held over fences last time out.

Form: 447332

Calculated Risk²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 106

12/1

Best form of late has come at Ffos Las and won two sellers there in the 2015/16 season. Showed a little more last time out back at Ffos Las but more needed to land a blow here in a tougher test than he has faced of late.

Form: 12-3650

Non-Runners

Rockchasebullett⁷⁵³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Beallandendall²⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: D Faulkner J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Greyed A (13/8), Western Wave (9/2), Never Learn (8/1), Hill Fort (10/1), Calculated Risk (12/1), Horseguardsparade (14/1), Beallandendall (14/1), Rockchasebullett (14/1), Cobolobo (16/1), Allez Vic (16/1), Mountain Of Mourne (20/1), Major Hindrance (20/1), Lac Sacre (20/1), Swincombe Toby (20/1), Poisoned Berry (33/1), The Mad Well (50/1), Lord Adare (66/1), Lydstep Point (66/1)

There are a couple of interesting handicap debutantes in this with the market needing close attention on Major Hinderance and Cobolobo. Both of those have shown promise in novice hurdles without being knocked around and are expected to make their mark in handicaps. Rockchasebullet returning after a long break is another who needs looking at while Horseguardsparade is expected to turn in his usual sound effort with conditions to suit. This looks a good opportunity though for GREYED A to continue his progress after winning at Lingfield in November. His yard do well with this type and the 5lb rise for that victory doesn’t look a harsh one. 1. Greyed A 2. Cobolobo 3. Major Hindrance