20:05 Chepstow

Friday 27 April 2018

All16:5017:2017:5018:2519:0019:3520:05

Braceys 'The Friendly Builders Merchant' 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 20:06 | Winning time: 4m 22.00s

Air Navigator³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| BF| D

6/1

Dual bumper winner on bad ground, but his three attempts over hurdles have been marred by jumping errors. Clearly has the ability to win one of these when getting his act together.

Form: 1-21U45

Cloudy Glen³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

11/2

Gradually improving over hurdles he shaped better than the distance he was beaten by last time (paid for matching strides with the winner). Should be capable of winning at this level; now on the soundest surface he's run on.

Form: 50623

Francky Du Berlais^h1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: P & M Bowen

25/1

Showed promise on bumper debut and excuses for his two defeats since. Makes his hurdling debut with a hood now fitted.

Form: 376

Kings Monarch³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

11/2

Winner of an Irish point-to-point on good ground and then sold for £60,000. His last run was shrouded in controversy, but a harsh penalty was overturned when it was revealed he bursts blood vessels. Risks attached but this may be his day.

Form: 10U54

Lad Of Luck³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| CD

11/4

Half-brother to useful hurdler Let's Dance who was an impressive winner of his bumper here last year. Has been let down by his jumping this term but claims here if improving in that department.

Form: 1-33

Tango du Roy²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Bred to be better than we have seen and pedigree would suggest he wants it softer than forecast. Few grounds to recommend him.

Form: 07P4

The Boom Is Back³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: Christian Williams

16/1

Winner of a slowly run point-to-point last month but the second has won since. Jockey booking catches the eye with another being kept on the market.

Form: P1

Reputational Risk¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: C Poste| T: M Sheppard

100/1

Tailed off on debut here two weeks ago and no reason to expect a dramatic improvement in form now hurdling.

Form: 9

Arian^p1⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 116| BF

2/1

Has performed to a similar level on her three recent starts and the form of the last two does not look strong enough. Cheekpieces fitted this time and she is receiving weight from horses who also have questions to answer.

Form: 51F-222

Non-Runners

Daylami Kirk¹⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: R J Hodges J: Nick Scholfield

Delirious Love⁹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Arian (2/1), Lad Of Luck (11/4), Kings Monarch (11/2), Cloudy Glen (11/2), Air Navigator (6/1), The Boom Is Back (16/1), Francky Du Berlais (25/1), Daylami Kirk (25/1), Delirious Love (33/1), Tango du Roy (66/1), Reputational Risk (100/1)

Arian receives a useful allowance and if cheekpieces can produce a bit extra then she may be good enough. However, KINGS MONARCH won his point-to-point on good ground and he does not have to improve much on his efforts in the mud to play a major role here. Lad Of Luck has been in need of the experience over hurdles, but enters calculations on his bumper form and given the likelihood of further improvement.