13:55 Chepstow

Saturday 24 February 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Pertemps MPS Network Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 4.80s

Amerton Lane²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Performed as his 100/1 price suggested in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter last time and no reason this step up in trip should make a big difference.

Form: 73-88

Ballymagroarty Boy⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: N J Hawke

100/1

Pulled up in two starts over hurdles so far having never figures in his only bumper. Very difficult to build a case for off the back of such poor efforts.

Form: 0PP

Blu Cavalier¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| BF

5/2

Bumper winner way back in late 2015 and has an interrupted career with only three starts since. Not too far away in third at Exeter last time and is entitled to improve for that effort here.

Form: 414/24

Champagne Champ²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: B R Millman

5/1

Fairly useful on the Flat and made a promising start over hurdles at Wincanton earlier in the month. Could well find more for this step up in trip.

Form: 3

Cotswold Way³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

12/1

Didn't seem to improve for his sole run in a bumper on debut over obstacles at Taunton last time out. Finished third there and no surprise to see him go fairly close.

Form: 53

Garran City⁷²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

10/1

Point-to-point winner in March 2016. Off since and may need the run but encouraging that the second and third from that race have won under rules since.

Form: 1/

Kings Monarch³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Joshua Moore| T: Kerry Lee

50/1

Won a point-to-point but not impressive in two runs over hurdles so far, first when racing far too keenly and then unseating last time out. Step up in trip a positive but still makes limited appeal.

Form: 10U

Monthyne¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: W Greatrex

50/1

Was returning from an absence when well-beaten at 150/1 on hurdling debut last time out. May do better here but still doesn't look up to winning a maiden hurdle based on his bumper form.

Form: 88/6

Mount Rushmoore¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: C L Tizzard

2/1

Showed marked improvement at Exeter last time out to go close at a price having placed on hurdling debut and won a point-to-point. A similar level of progression would see him go close.

Form: 132

Snuff Box³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams

7/1

Handled conditions better than most when C&D runner-up last month. Never a threat to the leader there but could go closer if improving his jumping this time.

Form: 1-92

U No Like⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris

33/1

Placed in a couple of points but that's only fair form and yard is 0/12 in maidens in the past five years.

Form: 244-2

Belle's Theatre²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams

33/1

Beat only one horse home on debut at Doncaster in January in a bumper. Sent over hurdles here and no obvious reason she should show the requisite marked improvement.

Form: 0

Boola River³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

1/14 in point-to-points before beaten 55L on debut over hurdles/under rules last time. Tough to imagine her coming on too much for that run.

Form: P/P143-3

Costante Via⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

25/1

Slightly disappointing on debut over hurdles last time having placed in a few bumpers, but she may well have needed the run after a long absence and better can be expected here.

Form: 33/2-0

Gnarly³³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

16/1

Third in a point-to-point which is working out well in terms of form and has now joined a top yard, but has been off for almost a year.

Form: 3-

Let's Sway²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

100/1

46-rated Flat maiden who failed to place in seven races on the level. Has joined this minor jumps yard and looks set for a minor role on debut over obstacles.

Form:

Forecasts

Mount Rushmoore (2/1), Blu Cavalier (5/2), Champagne Champ (5/1), Snuff Box (7/1), Garran City (10/1), Cotswold Way (12/1), Gnarly (16/1), Costante Via (25/1), U No Like (33/1), Belle's Theatre (33/1), Kings Monarch (50/1), Monthyne (50/1), Boola River (50/1), Ballymagroarty Boy (100/1), Amerton Lane (100/1), Let's Sway (100/1)

Not many of these have shown enough to prove competitive in a big-field maiden hurdle but MOUNT RUSHMORE definitely has. A point-to-point winner who has placed both in a bumper and a maiden hurdle he should be suited by this step up in trip and has shown he handles give underfoot. He shaped as if he should improve for the run at Exeter last time and could be the one to side with here. Multiple Flat winner Champagne Champ and recent C&D runner-up Snuff Box are others of interest.