19:00 Chepstow

Friday 26 April 2019

All16:5017:2017:5018:2519:0019:3020:00

Braceys Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 4m 46.9s

High Noon¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 109

15/2

Unexposed over hurdles and has clearly had his training problems. Handicapper has cut him some slack but he still has a lot to do off topweight judged on what he's achieved.

Form: 3/656-45

Dalaman⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 109| C

16/1

Had a productive winter in 2017 but has only had four runs since. Promised better when third at Ffos Las but he was soon in trouble at Sedgefield last time. Will need plenty of rain to have a glimmer of hope.

Form: 21-FP3P

Floresco^b,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: K Woollacott| OR: 109

33/1

WIthout a win since May 2016 and wind surgery has had little positive effect as he has failed to see out his last four completed starts.

Form: U0355F

The Vollan⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109

8/1

Caught the eye last time when fifth and not beaten far on handicap debut. That form has worked out well and he should appreciate this longer trip.

Form: 88655

Cold As Ice⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 108

10/1

Has only had five races so far and is yet to make the frame. Poor on last two outings when conditions were soft but has an outside chance on some of his form on a sounder surface. Worth noting if supported and the rain stays away.

Form: 5/7-44P

Jonnigraig^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 107

33/1

Did not last long with Willie Mullins and neither run for new connections has hinted he can trouble these off his current mark.

Form: 536384

Espalion²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 107| CD

7/4

Showed the benefit of wind surgery last time when winning cosily over C&D having been backed from 40s down to 6s. Just 7lb higher and easily had at least that amount in hand.

Form: 5460P1

Mr Fenton³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 107

25/1

Showed some promise as a novice in 2017 when rated a lot higher than here and was understandably keen on his return from a 30 month break. Drop to this trip is set to help and he would have to be of interest if market signals are positive.

Form: 52/278-P

Gaelic Poet^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 106

25/1

Earned this mark when fourth to Southfield Stone in December. Nothing he has achieved since or prior to that run suggest it is a fair reflection of his ability.

Form: 9-99459

Iron Horse^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 106

16/1

Short career has been punctuated with a series of reasonably long absences, which suggest the gelding may not be the most robust character. Needs to improve greatly upon his last three starts too.

Form: 4/3-599U

Harry Haze³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 102

25/1

Half-brother to bumper winner/useful chaser Midnight Haze. Can only improve now handicapping and stepping up in trip, but his initial mark looks harsh.

Form: 4/085

Wolftrap^h²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: L Heard| T: C Heard| OR: 102

50/1

Latest form under rules and in point-to-points suggest he is a long way below the standard that will be required to win this.

Form: 4P-U130

Adherence³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 101| D

17/2

Winner on stable debut at odds of 20/1. Form looks unreliable as the race fell apart when the clear leader came down two out. Nevertheless, he still has valid claims on his previous efforts and the yard had a double on Wednesday.

Form: 7/7873-1

Pleney³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 101

33/1

Has not done anything to be excited about, but this €60,000 purchase has got in on a low mark for his handicap debut if market signals indicate improvement is likely.

Form: 47799

Realta Dawn²³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 100

16/1

10-race ex-Irish maiden who is suited to summer ground. Has shown some ability but may need this after an eight month break..

Form: 37934F

Comeonthebull¹³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens| OR: 95

33/1

Second in a Stratford bumper on debut but hasn't come near to that form in four subsequent starts. May do better now handicapping, but a four month absence adds to a longer list of negatives.

Form: 625309

Tanacando⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 92

11/1

Sole performance of note came in late 2017 when second on heavy ground at Warwick. Has changed yards since his latest outing and is had to recommend.

Form: 23-054P

Flints Legacy³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 92

12/1

Signs of ability and temperament in an interrupted career. Positives to take from her reappearance when attracting some support and could be interesting if building on that here.

Form: 3P207/8

Forecasts

Espalion (7/4), High Noon (15/2), The Vollan (8/1), Adherence (17/2), Cold As Ice (10/1), Tanacando (11/1), Flints Legacy (12/1), Iron Horse (16/1), Realta Dawn (16/1), Dalaman (16/1), Harry Haze (25/1), Gaelic Poet (25/1), Mr Fenton (25/1), Pleney (33/1), Jonnigraig (33/1), Comeonthebull (33/1), Floresco (33/1), Wolftrap (50/1)

The Vollan may not have the most promising string of form figures, but his latest effort produced a much better effort on his handicap debut and the extra 3f here are a positive. However, he faces an improved horse in ESPALION who hacked up here earlier in the month. He appeared to have far more in hand than a 7lb rise implies and it was at least a stone better than anything he had done previously. Adherence looked fortunate to win at Taunton but nevertheless figures high on the shortlist as do Mr Fenton and Cold As Ice.