14:50 Chepstow

Wednesday 27 December 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:5015:2015:50

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

4YO plus | Class 1 | 3m 5f 110y | 20 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

Registered a repeat victory in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (4m, good) in April and ran well to finish second off his revised mark in a Grade 3 contest at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Stays well and represents a leading stable today.

Form: 669F1-2

Rock The Kasbah⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 149| C

Successful three times over fences including over an extended 2m7f on good-to-soft ground here on his seasonal debut in October. Races off a 7lb higher mark today and has run well over 3m5f in the past.

Form: 24126-1

Beware The Bear²⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| BF

Successful three times from five starts over fences and justified favouritism when making a winning seasonal debut over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (soft) last time out. Tackling a distance of more than 3m for just the second time today.

Form: 11174-1

Chase The Spud³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 148

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following a victory at Uttoxeter on soft ground over an extended 4m1f in March and a winning reappearance over an extended 3m1f at Haydock (heavy) a month ago. One to note despite racing off a 9lb higher mark today.

Form: 72751-1

Silsol^b,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

Useful novice chaser during the 2015/16 season but spent all of last season over hurdles including when winning a Grade 2 3m contest at Wetherby (good) 14 months ago. Well held on his seasonal debut last month and returns to fences today.

Form: 132/81-0

Final Nudge⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: David Dennis| OR: 145

In good form earlier this year winning novice handicap chases at Hereford (2m5f, heavy) and Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft) since cheekpieces were applied. Just touched off at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) on seasonal debut and an interesting runner today.

Form: 311F6-2

Pobbles Bay⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 144| C

Had just four starts over fences and was the winner of the first two of those including over an extended 2m7f on good-to-soft ground here last December. Well beaten twice since including on seasonal debut at Aintree (2m4f, soft) last time out.

Form: 24/115-9

Bishops Road²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 144

Good effort in finishing third to Bristol De Mai over 3m at Haydock (soft) in January. Pulled up in the Grand National subsequently but ran well to be second to Beware The Bear at Newcastle on seasonal debut last time.

Form: F/403P-2

Houblon Des Obeaux^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143

Winner of a veterans contest over 3m at Sandown (good-to-soft) but held over 3m5f there subsequently. Races off a mark 10lb lower than when finishing third in this contest last year.

Form: 4840-16

Wild West Wind^t¹⁸^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 138| BF| C

Winner of three of his last four starts including in the Welsh Grand National Trial over an extended 2m7f on heavy ground here earlier this month. Was making his seasonal debut on that occasion and carries a 4lb penalty for that success today.

Form: 22/113-1

Raz De Maree²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 140

Running well so far this season finishing runner-up in the Cork Grand National over 3m4f on soft ground last month. Has filled the same position over hurdles since and races off a mark 1lb higher than when finishing runner-up in this race last year.

Form: UP0-F22

Vintage Clouds³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140| BF

Impressed when coming home 18L clear of eight rivals in a 3m1f handicap chase at Aintree (good-to-soft) on seasonal debut in October. Ran well to finish second off this mark over shorter next time and this step up in trip looks likely to suit.

Form: F3F7-12

Splash of Ginge¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139

Recorded his biggest win to date when successful in a Grade 3 contest over an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Finished well beaten at the same course last time out and has stamina to prove stepping up in trip.

Form: 500-417

Ask The Weatherman^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 138

Winner of nine of his ten starts in point-to-points and his sole defeat in three chase starts came in the Foxhunter's at Cheltenham in March. Races off a mark 6lb lower than when winning over 3m at Exeter (soft) last month and remains unexposed.

Form: 1/1171-1

Mysteree²⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 138

Winner of two of his four starts since joining this stable including in the Eider over an extended 4m at Newcastle (soft) in February. Good effort to finish second to Chase The Spud at Uttoxeter a month later and he has run well fresh in the past.

Form: 48/1P12-

Sir Mangan⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

Ran well to finish second at Newton Abbot (good) in a handicap hurdle in October and made a winning return to fences when victorious at Bangor (3m, soft) last time out. More needed off a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 25/1-521

O'Faolains Boy²⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 137| C

Useful novice a few years back but pulled up on first three starts last season prior to finishing sixth at Punchestown (good-to-yielding) over an extended 3m in April. Bit to prove on seasonal debut.

Form: 87/PPP6-

Folsom Blue^p,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

Made a winning debut for this yard in a 3m handicap hurdle at Clonmel (soft-to-heavy) last month. Decent effort when fourth later that month and he is an interesting runner for a leading stable on his return to chasing.

Form: 1208-14

Buckhorn Timothy³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following a couple of handicap hurdle wins this autumn. Finished well beaten off a 1lb higher mark on his last chase outing here nearly 13 months ago but appears to be in good heart at present.

Form: 5/200-11

Milansbar^p1¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 134

Best effort in two starts this season came when finishing third to Wild West Wind on heavy ground here earlier this month. Races off the same mark today and the step up in trip and forecast underfoot conditions should both suit.

Form: 4PPP-63

Forecasts

Beware The Bear (6/1), Rock The Kasbah (15/2), Chase The Spud (8/1), Folsom Blue (10/1), Wild West Wind (10/1), Ask The Weatherman (12/1), Final Nudge (12/1), Vicente (12/1), Mysteree (12/1), Pobbles Bay (14/1), Vintage Clouds (14/1), Bishops Road (14/1), Raz De Maree (16/1), Silsol (20/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (20/1), Milansbar (20/1), Splash of Ginge (25/1), Sir Mangan (25/1), Buckhorn Timothy (25/1), O'Faolains Boy (33/1)

Trainer Michael Scudamore took this prestigious contest in 2012 and his MYSTEREE can record his fifth chase victory in the 2017 renewal of this contest. The selection boasts some strong form in staying chases last season and is unbeaten in two starts (including a match race) when returning from over 90 days off the track. Chase The Spud finished in front of the selection at Uttoxeter and he is taken to claim second on this occasion while a pair of ex-British point-to-pointers can fight it out for third with the unexposed Ask The Weatherman who is making just his second start in handicap company taken to get the better of Beware The Bear today.