16:45 Chepstow

Monday 2 September 2019

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

County Marquees Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 34.59s

(5)

Bug Boy^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽³⁾| T: Paul George| OR: 66

4/1

Overcame far from ideal scenario (pace bias) to score at Ffos Las last month recording a first win/career-best (two previous starts had flagged that may be in the offing). Below-par last time (raced freely); worth another chance given previous form.

Form: 862217

(2)

Twenty Years On^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 63| D

5/1

Quickly returned to cheekpieces having failed to look comfortable in first-time blinkers at Bath last time (finished last of four). Slips back below his last winning mark gained when winning at Salisbury (1m4f, good/firm); sound enough prospects.

Form: 717544

(4)

Four Mile Bridge¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 57

8/1

Modest sort; maiden handicapper (0-13) who looked flattered last time (passed beaten horses late on). Form overall has a rather uneven pattern with a touch of temperament appearing to surface on occasions; worth a try over 1m4f; minor player.

Form: 558347

(1)

Mr Nice Guy¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽³⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 57

7/2

Lightly-raced sort who may not as yet be fully exposed in handicaps having run well enough over 1m2f last time at Bath. That trip looked on the short side (form franked by the subsequent win of the second); more to come off same mark, up in trip.

Form: 05794

(8)

Bonneville^b⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 50

11/1

Has a string of placed efforts to his name in modest handicaps this year over this trip and shorter; unlucky to have bumped into improvers a couple of times. May have been unsuited by soft conditions last time; handicapper appears to have his number.

Form: 222360

(7)

Magic Act¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 50

7/1

Given three quick starts to ensure a handicap mark he looks rather limited so far but he's from a top yard who excel with this type. Starts life on a lowly mark and can't be discounted with handicaps likely to show him in a much better light.

Form: 596

(6)

Keith⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Sean Davis| T: B R Millman| OR: 48WS

9/1

Returns from wind surgery having so far looked as though he could do with a greater stamina test than he been given or will get here. Plugged on over this trip at Salisbury (soft) last time; more needed to get off the mark.

Form: 0-6605

(3)

Ocean Reach¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 46

5/1

0-11 so far and the search for her first victory continues; did run one of her better races over 2f shorter here in June (well positioned; suited by the race scenario). Again, ran with credit last time, not without hope if events fall her way.

Form: 9-04563

Forecasts

Mr Nice Guy (7/2), Bug Boy (4/1), Twenty Years On (5/1), Ocean Reach (5/1), Magic Act (7/1), Four Mile Bridge (8/1), Keith (9/1), Bonneville (11/1)

A modest enough finale with MR NICE GUY likely to enjoys this extra 2f and more galloping track than the 1m2f test at Bath provided him with last time. Compared to quite a few in this he’s still unexposed and features off a far from onerous mark. Ocean Reach is operating off a basement mark but there’s a chance she’s a little better than that judged on some of her form, third over C&D last time another solid performance is in the offing. Bug Boy isn’t discounted, a return to his winning form would be good enough while Magic Act is expected to show more now, he goes into handicaps; the market may give a clue on his expectations.