13:55 Chepstow

Saturday 23 February 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Pertemps MPS Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 58.90s

Totterdown^h⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 137| D

11/1

Having a fine season with two wins at Huntingdon (2m, good) and Sandown (2m, heavy) and two thirds in five runs. Latest two efforts rather suggest he's handicapped to the hilt, despite being eased 2lb now.

Form: F-13135

Stowaway Magic^t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: William Marshall⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| DWS

20/1

Ex-Nicky Henderson runner, has won over fences at Stratford (2m5f, good) since joining current team but never a threat back over hurdles at Kempton (2m5f, good to soft) in December. Wind op since, but something to prove right now.

Form: 80-2150

Highest Sun³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 131| BF

15/8

Expensive French import who has tended to take a keen hold on three starts in this country. Runner-up last time at Wincanton on good ground over similar distance (15-8f) and starting to go the right way now.

Form: 1-342

Robinshill^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

25/1

Won back-to-back chases at Ludlow last season, including on good. Below that level in all four starts this season, so really needs return to hurdling / lower handicap mark to bring a change in fortune.

Form: 5P-7386

Bhutan⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| D

20/1

Never really achieving what he was thought capable of for Joseph O'Brien. Still early days but failed to ignite on debut for this trainer at Wincanton (2m5½f, good to soft) last month on stable bow (pulled up).

Form: 5-472PP

Casa Tall^h1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 127

16/1

Dual winner up to 2m2f in France. Yet to show his best since coming over here though handicapper is giving some help.

Form: 31104-5

Melchior King⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| CD

11/2

Going the right way in each of his maiden hurdle runs, culminating in C&D success last month on good to soft going. Handicap bow and should have further progress to come. Yard 0-17 recently.

Form: 6-7761

Higgs³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 124

10/1

Dual novice hurdle winner over 2m1f at Newton Abbot in the spring. Promising 10L second over an extended 2m3f at Doncaster (good-to-firm) on handicap debut, but needs to recover from pair of poor runs since.

Form: 1-14276

The Dubai Way⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 124| BF| D

6/1

Useful hurdler (3-4) and has been running good races over fences in three starts this season (runner-up at Newcastle in December (2m½f, soft on latest start). Far from inconceivable he'll have a big say back over timber from fair mark.

Form: 118-452

Choix Des Armes²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

8/1

Winner of a novice handicap hurdle at Wincanton in April over this sort of trip and ran well enough in two further starts. Off since and will need to improve to making winning reappearance, though stable couldn't be in better form (34% lately).

Form: 06313-2

Hollywood Ken^t¹⁰⁴

12/1

Ended last season with back-to-back wins but pulled up on first start of this campaign in a warm Class 3 at Sandown on heavy ground (won by Totterdown). Eased 2lb for his trouble and has undergone a wind operation during 104-day break.

Form: 78511-P

Forecasts

Highest Sun (15/8), Melchior King (11/2), The Dubai Way (6/1), Choix Des Armes (8/1), Higgs (10/1), Totterdown (11/1), Hollywood Ken (12/1), Casa Tall (16/1), Bhutan (20/1), Stowaway Magic (20/1), Robinshill (25/1)

Totterdown has been enjoying a productive season though his two most recent starts leave the impression the handicapper has now got to grips with him. He had Hollywood Ken a long way behind at Sandown early in the term, though the latter should do better having had a wind op since. The lightly-raced Highest Sun must settle better while handicap debutant Melchior King needs respecting after his C&D success last time but THE DUBAI WAY has been running well over fences and should be able to go close back over timber from his current perch having met his only defeat in this sphere in a Sandown Grade 3 over a trip that might have been beyond him last season.