14:05 Chepstow

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:3013:0013:3514:0514:4515:2015:55

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 8m 14.1s

Vicente^h⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

14/1

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 in soft ground in November. Stays well and represents a leading stable.

Form: 669F1-2

Beware The Bear³⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

8/1

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.

Form: 11174-1

Chase The Spud⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 148

13/2

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) in November. Capable of running well despite rise in the weights.

Form: 72751-1

Silsol^b,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

33/1

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.

Form: 132/81-0

Final Nudge⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 145

12/1

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 here.

Form: 311F6-2

Pobbles Bay⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 144| C

14/1

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 Road³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 144

12/1

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

Wild West Wind^t²⁸^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 138| C

7/1

Winner of three of his last four starts including in the tria for thisl 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. Each-way chance.

Form: 22/113-1

Raz De Maree³²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 140

14/1

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 Clouds⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140| BF

12/1

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

Ask The Weatherman^p⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 138

10/1

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

Mysteree²⁹⁴

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

7/1

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-

O'Faolains Boy²⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 137| C

25/1

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. Engaged Sandown Saturday.

Form: 87/PPP6-

Buckhorn Timothy⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

20/1

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 13 months ago but appears to be in good heart at present.

Form: 5/200-11

Milansbar^p1²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 134

14/1

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

Form: 4PPP-63

Alfie Spinner^p,t²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 132| C

25/1

Won a Class 3 in soft ground at the start of 2017 and returned to form with a good second in the trial behind Wild West Wind here last month. Has a bit on to turn the form with that rival but won't mind the step up in trip and conditions fine.

Form: 1/149-P2

Rathlin Rose^b²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 132

33/1

Missed the 2016 season but returned with a couple of wins last year. Couldn't build on a promising reappearance when pulled up last time but step up in trip in his favour at least. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 411P-3P

On The Road^t1⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130

25/1

Completed a hat-trick over fences at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) in march and ran well to be second at Ffos Las (2m6f, heavy) on his seasonal debut and return to hurdles last time. Interesting runner in a first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 22111-2

Firebird Flyer⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130

25/1

Won a Listed contest at Uttoxeter in 2016 but very disappointing for the majority of last season. Seasonal return over hurdles last time out was encouraging but this obviously much tougher and more required.

Form: PPP8P-3

Emperor's Choice^p⁷^{(ex 4)}

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124| CD

16/1

Impressive winner when scoring in heavy ground at Haydock last week and only carries a 4lb penalty for that success. Conditions and trip no issue but hasn't always followed a good run with another and may find this coming too soon.

Form: PP5P-31

Forecasts

Chase The Spud (13/2), Mysteree (7/1), Wild West Wind (7/1), Beware The Bear (8/1), Ask The Weatherman (10/1), Final Nudge (12/1), Vintage Clouds (12/1), Bishops Road (12/1), Raz De Maree (14/1), Pobbles Bay (14/1), Milansbar (14/1), Vicente (14/1), Emperor's Choice (16/1), Buckhorn Timothy (20/1), Alfie Spinner (25/1), On The Road (25/1), Firebird Flyer (25/1), O'Faolains Boy (25/1), Silsol (33/1), Rathlin Rose (33/1)

Trainer Michael Scudamore took this prestigious contest in 2012 and his MYSTEREE can record his fifth chase victory in this year's 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.