16:05 Chepstow
Saturday 8 April 2017
All13:4014:1514:5015:3016:0516:4017:3518:05
toteWIN Beat SP 2016 National Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 11y  |  Good (Good to Soft in places, Watered)  |  15 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:05Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 53.45s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Regressive for some while now and although he won a weak seller at Newton Abbot last summer, he's done next to nothing since, finishing weakly. Down again in the handicap and conditions fine, but surely more likely winners.
Much improved on last two starts and second to Azzeri at Sandown last time reads well. Looks fairly handicapped on that and if handling this likely quicker ground (good efforts have come on soft/heavy) looks a player here.
Well backed for a competitive handicap at Haydock in January but got no further than the first. Didn't stay trip next time at Doncaster but back to form on latest start, just held by in-form Bol D'Air. Back up 3lb for that but still has to be taken seriously here.
Looked useful when with Matt Sheppard but has looked regressive in recent months, and mark now some 21lb lower than when starting out life in handicaps. Shown little on recent starts and although likely conditions fine, needs to turn his form around in a major way.
Showed plenty of promise when third to Buckle Street at Southwell and then ran a good race on handicap debut at Uttoxeter, pulling clear with the winner in the closing stages. Up 2lb for that but more improvement likely and has to be on the shortlist.
Has looked moderate in three start for the yard and no better for going handicapping, although may well have needed recent run after four months off. Early days and too soon to write off, but others have more pressing claims.
Not really showing enough as of late and handicapper is slow to release his grasp, but he has dropped him 3lb for another moderate effort last time. Looks to need further regardless and can't really be considered.
Pops up now and then and narrowly won a handicap at Wincanton (good to firm) last October. Not seen since finishing well beaten at Taunton in December (waiting for better ground, presumably) but handicapper may have him where he wants him, so best watched.
Go back far enough and this one was beating the very useful Song Light in a maiden hurdle at Plumpton in 2014, and recent efforts on the flat suggest there's still something to be won with him. Conditions fine, and comes with risks attached, but not totally discounted.
Popped up to win this last year from a mark 5lb higher than today, so every chance from a handicapping point of view. Looked to be going backwards until stopping the rot at Southwell last time, and if building on that, wouldn't be without hope of a repeat of last year.
Unseated his rider at Sandown last time but quietly progressive before that, looking all over the winner at Wetherby in October only to throw the race away close home. Clearly not straightforward but has ability, and if ready to go after a break, has a squeak.
Old boy has refound his form in no uncertain terms, winning back-to-back handicaps at Wincanton and Plumpton. Another 5lb ride for latest win asks more of him, but goes on most ground and hard to rule out in current frame of mind.
Has been kept busy over the last year or so, and last couple of starts have heralded a small return to form. However, is an infrequent winner and although likely conditions are ideal, it's more than likely he'll find a few too good again.
Has run well here on the flat, finishing placed in a couple of low-grade 2m handicaps but not really translated that form over hurdles and was well beaten on the flat at Lingfield recently. Looks a hard one to fancy.
Seems to follow a good effort with a bad one recently, but nothing wrong with his recent third to Beggar's Wishes at Southwell. May find the ground a bit lively here (best form on soft this season) but holds a chance on recent evidence.
Non-Runners
15
Weld Arab21
Weight: 10-11|Â Â Age: 6
T: M Blake  J: S Corby
NR
Forecasts
Get Rhythm (5/1), Zulu Oscar (11/2), My Boy James (7/1), Muffins For Tea (15/2), Hill Fort (8/1), Zenafire (17/2), Vocaliser (10/1), Thundering Home (12/1), Beallandendall (12/1), Jolly Roger (12/1), Grams And Ounces (16/1), Bad Boy Du Pouldu (16/1), Billy My Boy (16/1), Star Trouper (25/1), Weld Arab (25/1), Money Talks (40/1)
WELD ARAB was pulled up at Uttoxeter last time but the underfoot conditions there wouldn't have suited him at all, and on his form of last summer he looked certain to win a handicap or two when the ground quickened up. He'll strip fitter for that run and in an wide open race, is the suggestion. Money Talks, My Boy James, Grams And Ounces, Get Rhythm and Zenafire all hold chances on bits of form and the advice is to keep stakes small with so many contenders for top honours.
- Weld Arab
- My Boy James
- Get Rhythm
Prize Money
1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00
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