17:20 Chepstow

Saturday 13 October 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Join The Coral Champions Club For Free Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 5m 57.70s

Coo Star Sivola¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 150| D

16/1

Fine victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was probably feeling the effects of that effort when pulled up in a Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree. Has to cope with an 8lb rise in the weights on his return to action.

Form: 32411P-

Step Back¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 149| D

8/1

Lightly-raced chaser who bolted up in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in the spring. Has a bit to find with Thomas Patrick on earlier running, but, like him, he has done nothing but improve since they met.

Form: 19/2311-

Traffic Fluide^p¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 147

16/1

Returned to form with victories at Plumpton and Cheltenham in the spring. The handicapper has reacted and this longer trip may prove too much of a stamina test.

Form: 575011-

Rock The Kasbah^p¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 147| CD

2/1

No match for Step Back when runner-up at Sandown in the spring, but is 16lb better off for a 13-lengths beating. Chance at the weights and won this race last year, but this looks a stronger renewal.

Form: 126/1P2-

Brave Eagle^p1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

12/1

Five-times winner over hurdles and has won both his races over fences. Looks to be on a very high mark for what he has achieved, however, and connections reach for cheekpieces.

Form: U-11211

Captain Chaos¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| D

25/1

Well placed to win three novice chases last season, but bit off more than he could chew on his final start in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree. Pitched against some very useful rivals on handicap debut.

Form: 611415-

Cobra De Mai^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| BF

7/1

Stable companion of Captain Chaos and the main hope on jockey arrangements. In good form last season and return to action at Uttoxeter was perfectly acceptable. Career-high mark tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 54122-4

Lovely Job¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138| D

16/1

On an upward curve last season, but found this mark beyond him on his final start at Cheltenham. May not have been at his best that day, however, and more improvement is not out of the question.

Form: 121214-

Bigbadjohn¹⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| D

7/2

Unseated his rider in the Topham Chase at Aintree before being pulled up behind Step Back at Sandown. Previous win at Kempton gives cause for optimism, but others look more convincing.

Form: 7081UP-

Our Kaempfer¹⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 134| D

25/1

Long time since he got his head in front over hurdles or fences. Looks vulnerable to improvers in quite a hot contest.

Form: 7696-54

Silverhow¹⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132

20/1

Rounded off last season with a good win over 2m4f at Sandown, suggesting a step up to this sort of trip would suit. An 8lb rise looks severe, however.

Form: 421231-

The Young Master^p¹⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130| D

14/1

Thrown in on his old form, but was miles behind Step Back in the spring. Major revival needed and ground may be softer than ideal.

Form: 63P6U8-

Non-Runners

Thomas Patrick¹⁸²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: T Lacey J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Rock The Kasbah (2/1), Bigbadjohn (7/2), Thomas Patrick (11/2), Cobra De Mai (7/1), Step Back (8/1), Brave Eagle (12/1), The Young Master (14/1), Traffic Fluide (16/1), Lovely Job (16/1), Coo Star Sivola (16/1), Silverhow (20/1), Our Kaempfer (25/1), Captain Chaos (25/1)

Coo Star Sivola was improving before pulling up at Aintree and will surely fare better after his break. However, he meets two rivals who may be even more progressive in Step Back and THOMAS PATRICK. The latter prevailed the last time the pair met, but both have improved significantly since and it could be a close-run thing if they are tuned up for their seasonal reappearances. Rock The Kasbah has been given a chance by the handicapper and Lovely Job is not out of it if resuming his improvement.