14:15 Chepstow

Sunday 14 October 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Champion Hats Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 3.62s

Fanfan Du Seuil¹⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George

2/1

Ex-French gelding who won his only start in France in a fair juvenile hurdle on soft ground in April. Makes debut for in-form handler and looks one for the short list.

Form: 1-

Quel Destin¹³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

7/4

Sprang a surprise when landing an Auteuil heavy ground juvenile hurdle in May, his first win in seven starts. Joined top yard this autumn and should have no problem with anticipated easy ground. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 54-F1

Elysees³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

11/4

Won Flat handicaps at Wolverhampton and Sandown this spring/early summer at up to 1m6f so no stamina issues anticipated on hurdles bow. Narrowly beaten at York last time out so could be a danger if taking to timber.

Form:

Montestrel

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams

20/1

Made €27,000 as a yearling and is related to a number of fair performers over jumps. Debut here for good yard so any market interest would be well worth noting but will probably be better for the experience.

Form:

Youmzain Star¹¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

16/1

Won twice in French provinces on the Flat as a juvenile last year and makes debut for new yard having crossed the Channel in September to make a new start. Stable a little quiet at present so might improve for the outing.

Form:

Angel Of The North¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

33/1

Landed modest 1m1f Wolverhampton Flat handicap in July for Gay Kelleway. Some promise for new yard at Fontwell last month on hurdles bow but ran poorly and looked possible non-stayer at Market Rasen recently and may struggle again.

Form: 66

Molliana²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Finished last in all three starts on the Flat and has looked very modest in two starts over timber either side of a spin on the level in the Channel Islands. Hard to enthuse over.

Form: 57

Pilgrim Soul^h,t1⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

14/1

Maiden after seven Flat outings but has ability and went close on final start for Andrew Balding in 1m4f Newmarket handicap in August. Bought by new connections for £40,000 since and is an interesting jumps recruit. Worth a second glance.

Form:

Roser Moter¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

100/1

Won 1m4f Wolverhampton handicap for Eve Johnson Houghton in May but hasn't shown much in two starts over hurdles and looks stable second string on jockey bookings. Hard to see her being good enough in a fair race.

Form: 04

Non-Runners

Forgotten Promises⁵⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: Christian Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Quel Destin (7/4), Fanfan Du Seuil (2/1), Elysees (11/4), Pilgrim Soul (14/1), Youmzain Star (16/1), Montestrel (20/1), Angel Of The North (33/1), Forgotten Promises (50/1), Molliana (100/1), Roser Moter (100/1)

Never easy to assess the value of winning French hurdles form but it's usually decent and the penalised pair of FANFAN DE SEUIL and Quel Destin have already won there and could be decent recruits to the British ranks. Narrow preference is for Fanfan Du Seuil who is slightly less exposed. Elysees may well be the best of those with British Flat form and represents a top yard that does well with its dual purpose performers, while Pilgrim Soul looks the type to do well over timber and is worth adding to calculations, along with the interesting newcomer Montestrel.