15:55 Chepstow

Thursday 27 December 2018

All12:3013:0513:3514:1014:5015:2515:55

'Build Your Bet' On Football At Coral Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 3m 58.9s

Move Above²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph

8/1

Fair third on debut in Worcester bumper this summer but improved to spring 33/1 surprise on soft ground at Bangor earlier this month. 7lb makes life tougher but should still run his race.

Form: 31

Ask For Glory²²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

4/6

Gelded son of Fame And Glory who cost connections a massive £280,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point on his only outing in that sphere. Represents top firm in fine form and likely to go well on Rules debut.

Form: 1

Big Nasty²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M Keighley

10/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding whose dam is from family of smart Another Promise. Outpaced 3 out but stayed on steadily inside final furlong on debut at Haydock in heavy ground and should know his job better here.

Form: 3

Born To Sting

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George

6/1

Scorpion half-brother to decent Ballyalia Man. Makes racecourse bow here for yard ticking over steadily if unspectacularly. May be better for the experience.

Form:

Financier²³⁴

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

8/1

Won Witton Castle point-to-point on debut then bought for £115,000. Debut for new connections but yard having a fairly quiet spell so may be best wtached unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 1

Imperial Esprit

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry

8/1

Scorpion gelding whose maiden dam is related to smart chaser of a few decades ago, Drumlargan. Yard can ready them first time out but he has a proper staying pedigree and may need a little more time.

Form:

Scenemaker³⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr S A Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen

50/1

Showed nothing in two starts between the flags and looks up against it on Rules debut despite having joined a good yard. Hard to fancy.

Form: 08-

Wilde Water

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

22/1

Gelded son of Oscar hailing from yard in decent form so far this campaign. Dam placed in a bumper so a fair display not ruled out although would be a surprise winner.

Form:

Non-Runners

Spanish Starling⁶¹⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: S-J Davies J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Ask For Glory (4/6), Born To Sting (6/1), Imperial Esprit (8/1), Financier (8/1), Move Above (8/1), Big Nasty (10/1), Wilde Water (22/1), Spanish Starling (33/1), Scenemaker (50/1)

Given the fact that connections paid £280,000 for him after he made a winning debut between the flags, ASK FOR GLORY could be the one to land the finale given his trainer's fine course record. Previous winner Move Above will provide a good yardstick to the form and will be there to expose any inexperience in the selection, while Big Nasty is fancied the be thereabouts having caught the eye running creditably on debut at Haydock.