16:00 Chepstow

Thursday 21 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:40

Faucets And Rada The Professionals Choice Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 6m 8.6s

Alberto's Dream⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 115| D

8/1

Rattled off a four-timer when joining this yard last year but did rather look as if the handicapper was catching up with him by the end of it, and his comeback effort at Hereford left a bit to be desired. Conditions fine but others make more appeal.

Form: 11112-7

Steps And Stairs²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 115| D

7/2

Went close on heavy ground at Haydock in December but two pretty moderate efforts since then rather suggest he's finding it hard going at present. On a fair mark and return to slower ground ma help, but a bit risky at the moment.

Form: 31-2344

Sandhurst Lad^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 115

5/2

Back to form when successful at Wincanton last time out, although was tiring towards the end and faces much slower ground conditions here. 5lb rise makes life a bit harder as well,so probably needs to eke out a bit more today.

Form: 4P-4431

Paddy The Oscar⁹⁸

Age: 16| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: G Harris| OR: 115| CD

20/1

Lovely old boy that could find his way around here backwards, often giving a bold show from the front and jumping his rivals into submission. Likely to give it a good crack again and despite the advancing years, others can't give him too much rope.

Form: 52315-P

Newtown Lad^b,t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 113| D

9/1

More letters than numbers in his form, which is never a good thing, and although he will find this a bit easier than Carlisle last time, hard to make any sort of a solid case for.

Form: PP-P3UP

Western Climate^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: C Poste| T: T H Weston| OR: 113| D

14/1

More P's than Birds Eye in his form as of late and absolutely gave up the ghost at Huntingdon last time once he'd had enough. Can't be entertained in current frame of mind.

Form: 4-P0PPP

Norse Legend^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108

13/2

Just the two wins in 25 starts and clearly not one of the yards leading lights, but is at least unexposed over fences and wasn't disgraced over a bit shorter at Exeter last time. Needs a bit more but that's far from impossible. Chances.

Form: 3-1D8P3

Irish Octave^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 103| D

20/1

Only moderate but does try hard and gains the odd win when it all goes his way. Worries would be that he seems a bit out of form at present and this ground may be a bit softer than he really likes, so for today is passed over.

Form: 114F57

Tzar De L'Elfe²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 102

9/1

Has found a bit of form lately, runner up on last two starts and does stay well, but an overall record of just one win in 39 starts immediately tempers any great confidence he might go one better here. Should be on the premises nevertheless.

Form: 8-69422

Lac Sacre^b,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: J L Flint| OR: 100| CD

10/1

Nothing wrong with this handicap mark if he does decide to bounce back to form but recent efforts don't exactly point to that happening today. However, second in this from 5lb higher last year gives some hope he could bounce back.

Form: 242-44P

Non-Runners

Angels Antics⁵⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Victors Serenade³²⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 14

T: A J Honeyball J: Rex Dingle

The Lion Dancer³⁴⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: C J Mann J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Sandhurst Lad (5/2), Steps And Stairs (7/2), The Lion Dancer (5/1), Angels Antics (6/1), Norse Legend (13/2), Alberto's Dream (8/1), Newtown Lad (9/1), Tzar De L'Elfe (9/1), Lac Sacre (10/1), Western Climate (14/1), Victors Serenade (14/1), Irish Octave (20/1), Paddy The Oscar (20/1)

This should be run at a solid pace, with the veteran Paddy The Oscar only knowing one way to go and that's hard from the front, and despite the fact he's now old enough to buy a lottery ticket, the enthusiasm still remains and the others will need to keep him in their sights. ANGELS ANTICS has all the size you want from a chasing mare and if she can just take another small step forward from her previous chasing efforts, this could be her day. Sandhurst Lad is in form but has a bit more to do, so preference for the places is for Tzar De L'Elfe and Norse Legend.