15:05 Chepstow

Saturday 8 December 2018

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

Llewellyn Humphreys Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 6m 24.7s

Anteros^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Skehan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 129| C

7/1

Couple of decent efforts over hurdles in the autumn including when fourth over an extended 3m2f at Newton Abbot (heavy) in October. Fell at Cheltenham last time out however.

Form: 256-34F

Poker Play^p⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

5/1

Decent effort when 13L third over 2m7f at Worcester (good) in October. First start since wind surgery that day and tongue tie worn for the first time is absent for this contest.

Form: 0/5P33-3

Mercenaire^p1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 127

20/1

Won and placed over hurdles at Exeter last season. Struggled in two starts this term including over fences last time out. Cheekpieces tied for the first time stepping up markedly in distance.

Form: 132P-75

Diablo De Rouhet²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M D Grant| T: J Hughes| OR: 127| C

7/2

Victorious in a maiden hurdle over an extended 2m3f on heavy ground here in January. Placed twice since and making his handicap and seasonal debut on this occasion.

Form: 651220-

Truckers Lodge^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| C| D

9/4

Finished fourth on both starts since joining this yard. Cheekpieces worn for the first time at Worcester (2m4f, good) last time out are retained.

Form: 1/42-144

On The Road³¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122

12/1

Completed a hat-trick over fences when winning over 2m5f at Sedgefield (soft) in March last year. Disappointing in three starts since placed at Ffos Las (2m6f, heavy) on his first start last season and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 11/2UP5-

Braventara³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 118

14/1

Placed twice last season including over 3m on soft going at Taunton in February. Fair 11L fifth over this C&D on good ground on seasonal debut in October and likely to have improved for the run.

Form: FF/32F-5

Falcons Fall^p³⁰¹

8/1

Disappointing in four starts since winning over C&D on soft going in March last year. Races off a 3lb lower mark on his first start since wind surgery.

Form: 31/P9P7-

Zephyros Bleu^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 110| D

25/1

Struggled in two starts since joining this stable. Handicap mark is falling as a result and has won on forecast heavy ground in the past.

Form: 15/9F-64

Forecasts

Truckers Lodge (9/4), Diablo De Rouhet (7/2), Poker Play (5/1), Anteros (7/1), Falcons Fall (8/1), On The Road (12/1), Braventara (14/1), Mercenaire (20/1), Zephyros Bleu (25/1)

DIABLO DE ROUHET is taken to record his first handicap victory by getting the better of Truckers Lodge in this handicap hurdle contest. The selection showed decent form in novice company and can make a winning handicap debut with Poker Play, a winner in France as a three-year-old taken to finish third.