13:35 Chepstow

Friday 18 January 2019

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Event Image Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 4m 57.6s

Down The Highway⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| BF| D

7/1

Looked useful when scoring on debut at Lingfield (2m3f, heavy) in November. Post-race testing found no reason for his disappointing effort at Sandown last time in Grade 2 company. Serious player under a penalty if he can bounce back.

Form: 1-1P

Truckin Away⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| BF

6/1

Made a decent debut when winning by over 3L from a useful sort in a Ffos Las maiden hurdle (2m4f, heavy) in November. Was joint favourite with Down The Highway at Sandown last time, when he checked out early. Serious claims if bouncing back.

Form: 3-1F

Black Centaur²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

13/2

7L winner of his sole Irish point last May (good). Bought by current connections for £45,000 in August. Makes his debut for a top stable and sufficient hints from his pedigree that he should handle the forecast ground. Interesting.

Form: 1

Breaking Waves⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: Noel WilliamsWS

14/1

Won a Huntingdon bumper on debut and bettered that on his reappearance in a decent Cheltenham bumper in October. Not as good on his Plumpton hurdles debut. Since had wind surgery, so may be able to kick on again.

Form: 1-33

Dickie Diver³⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson

11/4

Bought for £210,000 after being the wide margin winner of a maiden Irish point-to-point (heavy; sole start) in December 2017. Represents stellar connections and should be capable of making an impact on debut.

Form: 1-

Ganache²⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

10/1

Has shown some ability in two bumpers. From a good family and a top stable, and likely to be able to improve on that on his debut over hurdles.

Form: 33-

Gibb Hill¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler

100/1

Well held in all four starts in bumpers and looks to have plenty on his plate now going hurdling.

Form: 5-079

Hurricane Arcadio^h1⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: M Blake

66/1

Made the frame in both starts in Irish point-to-points, and bought by current connections for £22,000 last month. Hooded for his first start under rules and is probably one to watch this time, given the strength of the opposition.

Form: 23

Jog On³⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Nicky Martin

33/1

Sent off at just 5-1 on debut in a Wincanton bumper (heavy) last February, when with Colin Tizzard. Has since switched stables and makes his debut for this one today. Trip looks within range for hurdles debut, but may be one to watch this time.

Form: 6-

Lisnagar Oscar³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 133

4/1

Debut Irish point-to-point winner last March, after which he cost connections £105,000. Has improved with each race under rules, despite not yet winning. Beaten under 3L in a Cheltenham Grade 2 (3m, good to soft) last time. Serious player.

Form: 1-322

Our Idic Boy⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

66/1

33-1 and well held on debut in a Uttoxeter bumper (good) in November. This looks a tough introduction to hurdles.

Form: 0

Saturdaynightfever³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Showed promise in bumpers last season (best form on good). So far well below that over hurdles, so probably one to watch today and of more interest when going handicapping.

Form: 457-3F

Storm Arising⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

12/1

Returns for his third start over C&D, having improved last time when 12½L fourth on heavy, last month. Probably more to come this time, and not ruled out of the prizes.

Form: 3-64

Tedspeed⁷¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade

33/1

Won an Irish point-to-point in 2016 (good) but doesn't look to have been the easiest to train since, being limited to just a bumper and, after joining this yard, just one point-to-point run in February 2017. Can only watch.

Form: P51F62/

Wee Saxon³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: C L TizzardWS

16/1

Debut Irish point-to-point winner in 2015. Was off for over two-and-a-half years prior to his two well beaten efforts for this stable this season. Has now had wind surgery, but can only watch at present.

Form: 12/84

Ali The Hunter²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly

20/1

0-10 under rules and beaten 19L at Wincanton on her hurdles debut last time. Should find a few too good here, but might be of more interest when she has a handicap mark to work with.

Form: 43-3

Forecasts

Dickie Diver (11/4), Lisnagar Oscar (4/1), Truckin Away (6/1), Black Centaur (13/2), Down The Highway (7/1), Ganache (10/1), Storm Arising (12/1), Breaking Waves (14/1), Wee Saxon (16/1), Ali The Hunter (20/1), Saturdaynightfever (33/1), Jog On (33/1), Tedspeed (33/1), Our Idic Boy (66/1), Hurricane Arcadio (66/1), Gibb Hill (100/1)

A fascinating race in prospect. Both Down The Highway and Truckin Away look to be above average in ability, but at the same time they arrive carrying penalties and with a bit to prove after their latest efforts in the same Sandown race. Therefore, it could pay to take them on with LISNAGAR OSCAR, who is improving, receives weight from both of them, and should appreciate this stiffish 2m3½f. Black Centaur is very interesting, as are the Nicky Henderson pair Dickie Diver and Ganache, while Breaking Waves is not written off.