16:00 Chepstow

Thursday 22 March 2018

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:35

Recticel Insulation Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 20.6s

Paddy The Oscar⁴⁸

Age: 15| Weight: 12-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 116| CD

10/1

Remarkably has won twice over this C&D this season, including early last month, at the ripe old age of 15. Should remain competitive on increased mark during this Indian summer.

Form: 125231

Firebird Flyer^p³²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 116| D

14/1

Certainly not the force of old although he has faced some tough tasks in the main since his career best performance winning the Midlands National (2016). Now 22lb below that mark, but struggling overall to find any form.

Form: 8P-3F88

Bears Rails^b³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 114| D

7/1

Blinkers appeared to help earlier in the season with good efforts at Uttoxeter and Plumpton, hasn't excelled lately in Sussex/Surrey Nationals and perhaps this more conventional trip can see him bounce back.

Form: P-P2295

Streets Of Promise^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 113| D

9/2

Three-time winner during 2016 but all of 2017/18 efforts have left plenty to be desired. Latest when beaten 37L over 3m at Ffos Las last month. Drops in grade.

Form: P3-9467

Polymath¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: D Faulkner| OR: 110| D

20/1

Hurdles winner in Ireland on final start for Gordon Elliott (2m5½f, yielding) in August. Beaten around 8L on chase / stable debut at Worcester (2m7f, good) in October and off since. Questions on this ground.

Form: 337413

Pink Gin^t⁹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

8/1

Returned from a break to resume his chasing career and shaped relatively well on both occasions finished second twice. Let down by his jumping when last seen falling at Towcester around halfway and a little more needed here in any case.

Form: 235-22F

Looks Like Power^h,t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 108

10/1

Fairly consistent in six starts over hurdles, despite just a single success at Ffos Las (2m, good) last April. Tackling a longer trip now and requires a little extra.

Form: 13-2423

Lac Sacre^b,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: J L Flint| OR: 105| CD

9/2

Just denied over the trip at Ffos Las recently, taking advantage of declining mark this winter to regain some consistency. Up 3lb here but eased in grade, should go well again. Won this last year.

Form: P66322

Pine Warbler^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 103

7/1

Maiden over hurdles, has shown some promise since going chasing but most recent couple of efforts suggesting this trip might be beyond him stamina-wise.

Form: P2-U843

Saroque¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 103| D

7/1

Some useful efforts last season in defeat, mark sliding right down and could well have more wins in him at 11-years-old, but both efforts this term have been poor. Handicapper has offered some help with 7lb easing.

Form: 5223-76

For Carmel^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 96| D

9/1

Maiden hurdler (nine starts) who has offered more over fences, most notably at Lingfield in January when second over this sort of trip. Pulled up since over hurdles, has to bounce back now.

Form: 02322P

Non-Runners

Cailleach Annie⁸¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: Miss J Du Plessis J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Lac Sacre (9/2), Streets Of Promise (9/2), Cailleach Annie (5/1), Pine Warbler (7/1), Bears Rails (7/1), Saroque (7/1), Pink Gin (8/1), For Carmel (9/1), Looks Like Power (10/1), Paddy The Oscar (10/1), Firebird Flyer (14/1), Polymath (20/1)

Paddy The Oscar continues to defy age and cannot be easily overlooked in his bid for a third C&D win of the season, at 15-years young. He should mount another bid at this track he relishes. Last year's winner Lac Sacre has been threatening to take advantage of a falling mark and is also respected in this grade again while Bears Rails might find this trip more to his liking after marathon journeys at Plumpton and Lingfield. There was much to like about CAILLEACH ANNIE's Uttoxeter win on New Year's Eve and she may be up to defying the ratings hike, give how much she had in hand there.