17:05 Chepstow

Wednesday 20 March 2019

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

Polyroof Products Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 4m 50.75s

Voodoo Doll^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121

12/1

Started the season well; scored a summer hat-trick over hurdles (all over 2m4f); twice in cheekpieces. His form since has been most consistent off higher marks; not ideally placed last time, slight drop in class here, cheekpieces back on.

Form: 238533

Klare Castle²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 120

7/1

Still a maiden but has shown some useful form in bumpers, over hurdles; tried over a variety of trips. Initial hurdles run showed that she had work to do from this mark in this sphere (may not have been seen to best effect); others appeal more.

Form: 2U-4387

Liosduin Bhearna²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

7/2

Arguable what he achieved when winning on his handicap debut at Ayr in terms of the strength of the field. Going in the right direction though but will looks to need a strong gallop/stamina test at this trip off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 2-23221

Billingsley³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: A Ralph| OR: 119| C

12/1

Dual course novice hurdle winner over 2m; may have excuses for his two disappointing handicap runs. Looks as though he failed to stay last time (back from a break); likely to prove better at this trip, mark still looks stiff enough.

Form: 4/011-50

Sirop De Menthe⁴⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 119| D

50/1

Form since his successful return from a break (Ffos Las, 2m6f, soft) in November 2016 has been inconsistent to say the least. That win came off a much higher mark but has a rather lengthy absence to overcome now.

Form: 57P63/5-

Tegerek¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117

5/1

Successful on the Flat in France before coming to GB; showed promise of varying degrees in his qualifying runs for handicaps; all over 2m. Ran well on handicap debut (jumping needs to improve); showed there was more to come; worth a try at 2m4f.

Form: 5354

Dandolo Du Gite^t⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117WS

9/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who actually improved from his win over timber before running below form on his handicap debut under a change of tactics (held up, pulled too hard). Returns from a wind op off a 1lb lower mark.

Form: 31-2135

Dark Episode³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

20/1

Looked the sort who would be useful in handicaps especially after his small-field novice hurdle victory at Leicester. That's not been the case though and he's suffered two heavy defeats in this sphere; much to prove.

Form: 331P9

Chimes Of Dylan^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115WS

33/1

First-time blinkers appeared the catalyst for an improved showing on his final start for Neil King's yard; won Worcester handicap (may have been flattered). Failed to back up that effort on his first start for this yard; returns from a wind op.

Form: 2-45814

Acaro¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 114| D

10/1

Glimpses of ability in juvenile hurdles (2017); had failed to make much impact in handicaps though before showing improved form at Fontwell (2m3f, heavy, relished conditions). Well backed but beat little; 7lb higher mark to cope with.

Form: 37-P381

Yorgonnahearmeroar^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 112| D

14/1

Nothing wrong with the form of the yard but hasn't been able to match that in his recent runs. Now back over hurdles (last two races over fences), he's only 1lb higher than his last winning mark if he does fire again.

Form: P41-88U

Sizing At Midnight⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 107

14/1

Stable a little quiet at the moment; showed more than on his previous runs last time (not given a hard time). That test over 2m was a little too sharp for him (2m4f will suit better); open to progress, not too harshly treated.

Form: 70P/7

Seaston Spirit^b1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 105| D

7/1

Blinkers now popped on for the first time (ran below form in cheekpieces last time); only just returned from some very in-and-out chase starts. Mark quite an appealing one but does remain a rather uncertain proposition.

Form: 0F4474

Mr Fitzroy^b1,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 101

20/1

Blinkers (first-time) now join the usual tongue-tie for this one who has fallen markedly in the handicap; well below form last time though, struggling along way out. Hard to construct a confident case for him.

Form: 4FU74-5

Non-Runners

Deebaj²⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: Joshua Moore

Shaw's Cross³³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: P Henderson J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Liosduin Bhearna (7/2), Tegerek (5/1), Seaston Spirit (7/1), Klare Castle (7/1), Dandolo Du Gite (9/1), Acaro (10/1), Billingsley (12/1), Voodoo Doll (12/1), Yorgonnahearmeroar (14/1), Sizing At Midnight (14/1), Deebaj (14/1), Shaw's Cross (14/1), Dark Episode (20/1), Mr Fitzroy (20/1), Chimes Of Dylan (33/1), Sirop De Menthe (50/1)

A big-field handicap to end the card although those that could be said to be ahead of the handicapper are few and far between. One who may well be is TEGEREK who produced some solid efforts in his qualifying runs before building on those in his first handicap. With that experience behind him and with this new trip looking to suit he’s taken to defeat Liosduin Bhearna the recent Ayr scorer, he may just need 3m to score again. Any further rain would suit heavy-ground Fontwell scorer Acaro with Yorgonnahearmeroar from the in-form Oliver stable respected despite his recent disappointing chase runs. Sizing At Midnight and Voodoo Doll are two others to note.