14:30 Chepstow

Saturday 8 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

Coral Welsh Grand National Trial Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 6m 32.0s

Wild West Wind^t²⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 142| CD

12/1

Winner of this race off a 4lb lower mark 12 months ago. Failed to complete in four subsequent outings but has won first time out for the last two seasons.

Form: 3/1FRUP-

Houblon Des Obeaux^p²²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 141| D

9/1

Fell in the Grand National at Aintree and finished well beaten in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown (3m5f) on his final start of last season. Has forecast underfoot conditions to suit on seasonal debut.

Form: 63P3F9-

Ramses De Teillee^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 140| CD

2/1

Dual chase winner last season including on heavy ground over C&D in January. Decent effort wehn 16L fifth at Wincanton (3m1f, good) on his seasonal reappearance last time.

Form: 21279-5

Prime Venture¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| D

20/1

Struggled in two starts in novice chases prior to refusing at the first in a 2m4f event at Ludlow (good) last time out. Others make more appeal on handicap bow.

Form: 86-067R

Duke Des Champs³⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| BF| C

9/1

Placed on chase debut in a heavy ground contest over an extended 2m6f at Newbury last December. Well held third on his only subsequent start.

Form: 2136/23-

Another Venture²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133| CD

5/1

First leg of a double when winning over C&D on heavy ground in January. Followed up at Hereford (3m1f, soft) later that month and interesting to see how he fares on his first start since finishing fourth at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March.

Form: 261134-

Ami Desbois^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 133| D

16/1

Successful twice over fences but pulled up in Grade 2 company on his final two starts last last season and unseated rider at Newcastle (soft) over this trip on seasonal debut a week ago.

Form: 1/11PP-U

Alfie Spinner^p,t²³⁷

22/1

Good second in a 3m handicap chase at Ffos Las 9soft) in April. Had wind surgery since and races off a mark 4lb higher than for his most recent victory.

Form: 9/P2252-

Ballycross^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| D

8/1

Good third in a 3m2f handicap chase at Carlisle (good) early last month. Softer ground forecast no issue and races off a 1lb lower mark.

Form: P41-243

Back To The Thatch²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 127| CD

9/2

Fair effort when 27L seventh over 3m at Bangor (good-to-soft) on seasonal debut last month. Races off a mark 7lb higher than when winning over C&D in January.

Form: 231FP-7

Forecasts

Ramses De Teillee (2/1), Back To The Thatch (9/2), Another Venture (5/1), Ballycross (8/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (9/1), Duke Des Champs (9/1), Wild West Wind (12/1), Ami Desbois (16/1), Prime Venture (20/1), Alfie Spinner (22/1)

WILD WEST WIND has shown a liking for this track in the past and he is taken to get back on track by following up last years victory in this contest. The selection has a good record fresh and can get the better of Duke Des Champs who remains open to improvement and is another making his seasonal debut. Veteran Alfie Spinner placed second in this 12 months ago and he can finish third this time around.