15:25 Chepstow

Sunday 15 October 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Bob Champion Cancer Trust Veterans' Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 6m 5.03s

Double Ross³²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| CD

4/1

Lightly raced since winning this race last year - posted a very solid effort to finish third in the Hennessy when last seen out. Goes well fresh and cannot be discounted from just 1lb higher.

Form: 99P/153-

Loose Chips^b¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 144| D

14/1

Stays well and acts with plenty of cut in the ground but has a 6lb higher mark to contend with after winning at Ascot in April. Second in this last year, so very feasible he can go close but 8lb higher this time around.

Form: 173251-

Shuil Royale^p,t¹⁶²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 144| D

28/1

Dropped to handy mark but form had taken a dip when last seen out. Won a similar race at Aintree around this time last year, so decent claims if bouncing back under a 7lb claimer.

Form: P21P9-P

No Duffer^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 144| D

16/1

Claims on the best of his efforts and ought to handle the ground. No issues with the trip but was behind Loose Chips at Ascot last time and absent since then. Usually better for a run and opposable on these terms.

Form: 1/61P25-

Forgotten Gold^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 141| D

25/1

Goes well after a break but needed a run to put him straight last year. Better off at the weights but needs to improve on his effort behind Loose Chips at Ascot to make the frame.

Form: 12/8103-

Fox Appeal^t,v⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 141| D

16/1

Sixth in this last year and not so good when returning at Fontwell at the start of this month. Sported a visor for the first time on that occasion and has something to prove with the headgear back in place today.

Form: 661-274

Potters Cross¹⁸²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135| CD

8/1

C&D winner last October and went on to further success at Newbury in December. Failed to complete in three subsequent starts (one of which was a very modest effort in the Kim Muir), so now comes back here with plenty to prove.

Form: P21PPP-

Killala Quay^p²⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131| C| D

16/1

Last season's efforts blighted by uncompleted starts and hard to say his solitary win at Doncaster was anything more than a bolt from the blue. On a handy mark but not one in whom to place too much trust.

Form: 4/PPP1P-

Lamb Or Cod^t¹⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 131| CD

4/1

Very capable stayer and enters this with an eye-catching profile. Strong contender on the pick of his efforts but usually much better for a run, so a betting check would be prudent once the preliminary activities have been completed.

Form: 01P0P4-

It's A Gimme^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

12/1

Dropped to a very handy mark and not without a chance on the pick of his efforts. Has a fitness advantage over a few of the others, which off-sets his inconsistent profile. Worth noting in the betting at least.

Form: 90-5205

Theatrical Star^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130| C| D

10/1

Fourth in this last year and decent place claims at least from a 3lb lower mark; but well below par when behind a few of these at Ascot latest and plenty to prove just now.

Form: 032548-

Fear Glic¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 124| C

50/1

Form has taken a nosedive since winning at Newton Abbot in and Stratford last summer. Poor effort on last month's return at Worcester was off-putting and others now readily preferred.

Form: 611PF-9

Bob Ford^h²¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: A Ralph| OR: 122| CD

5/1

Previous C&D winner for his former yard but was out of form and difficult to get right towards the end of last season. Hard to see him turning back the clock on these terms.

Form: P/47P4P-

Cloudy Beach⁵⁸²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119| C| D

20/1

Yard always respected at this course and interesting the gelding starts his campaign back at the scene of his comfortable win in a Novices chase last March. Off since then and more to do from out of the weights, so comes with risks attached.

Form: 176141/

Non-Runners

Alvarado¹⁷⁶

Weight: 10-8| Age: 12

T: F O'Brien J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Double Ross (4/1), Lamb Or Cod (4/1), Bob Ford (5/1), Alvarado (15/2), Potters Cross (8/1), Theatrical Star (10/1), It's A Gimme (12/1), Loose Chips (14/1), Fox Appeal (16/1), Killala Quay (16/1), No Duffer (16/1), Cloudy Beach (20/1), Forgotten Gold (25/1), Shuil Royale (28/1), Fear Glic (50/1)

Last year's winner Double Ross and Loose Chips are both highly respected in a race that might well unfold to suit either very well. However, IT'S A GIMMIE is on a very lenient mark by comparison and could be the better value option in a race that is full of pitfalls. Lamb Or Cod also has leading claims but like a few of his rivals, he is usually better for a run and may just need this to top up his fitness levels.