15:25 Chepstow

Wednesday 20 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

ECIC Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 1.2s

Antunes¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

7/4

Easy winner of Uttoxeter handicap in December, for which he was raised 14lb, beat next time out but arguably better than ever in handicap company at Newbury recently and considered in novice company once more.

Form: 23-0153

Khage²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 128| BF| D

4/5

Good winner at Taunton two starts back, can be forgiven a poor run at Fakenham next time and comes here off a sound runner-up finish at Ffos Las and will go close if jumping a bit better.

Form: 5-F2172

Allonok^h1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton

33/1

Improved for his debut when running well in a Warwick bumper in December. Not as good on hurdles introduction at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) last month when fading late in the day. Early days however.

Form: 056

Electron Bleu⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 132

5/1

Fairly useful winner over fences in France, though final run there was a poor one in January. Worth a market check over hurdles on first start for Tim Vaughan.

Form: 21-S5F3

Harry Haze⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando

33/1

Well beaten over C&D in January on rules bow in maiden company and didn't threaten to build on that when 150-1 in similar fare at Exeter since (2m1f, good to soft). Plenty more required.

Form: 4/08

Long River Dancer^t1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

A first-time tongue tie is added here but three runs to date don't leave a feeling that a breakthrough win is imminent.

Form: 85F

Nighthawker²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw

100/1

Moderate form in two bumpers so far, goes jumping for the first time and looks to have enough on his plate.

Form: 90

Nordenfelt¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

66/1

Modest stayer on the Flat (0-9) and may need some time to adapt to new discipline, with market likely to be a sound guide.

Form:

Sign Of War⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

8/1

Had no chance with easy winner at Taunton (2m1f, good) in January on second start over timber, but was only collared for second on the line and there could be more to come.

Form: 453

Forecasts

Khage (4/5), Antunes (7/4), Electron Bleu (5/1), Sign Of War (8/1), Harry Haze (33/1), Allonok (33/1), Nordenfelt (66/1), Nighthawker (100/1), Long River Dancer (100/1)

Both Antunes and Khage are previous winners and need respecting. The former essentially improved last time at Newbury and should go close returned to novice company, while the latter needs to brush up on his hurdling technique. The French import Electron Bleu could have a say on first start for Tim Vaughan but the nod goes to SIGN OF WAR. He ran a pleasing race at Taunton on second hurdles start (third) despite the winner leaving his rivals a long way behind. There should be a bit more to come and his trainer/jockey combined to take this race 12 months ago.