14:10 Chepstow

Friday 11 October 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:35

Unibet Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 55.70s

Diomede Des Mottes^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

14/1

Off the mark at the sixth time of asking in a 2m5f maiden hurdle and after the summer off he returned by winning a 3m Southwell novice upped to 3m. Progressive now but this a big step up in class.

Form: 23301-1

Echiquier⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| D

10/1

French chase winner (2m3½f, heavy) found a soft race on UK debut and duly won in a hack canter at Hexham (three ran). Hard to gauge him coming here but stable's form a plus and he wasn't far from this level over fences.

Form: 35F52-1

Fiddlerontheroof²⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard

4/1

Bought for the princely sum of £200,000 after upsetting a Willie Mullins hotpot in a Navan bumper in March. That one beaten again since but nevertheless this looks a hot prospect for a respected yard.

Form: 4/5321-

Harambe¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 137| D

11/2

Won at Kempton and Market Rasen last term before chasing home 155-rated Paul Nicholls inmate Getaway Trump in a valuable series final at Sandown. Useful sort could progress again this term.

Form: 244112-

Paint The Dream^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

33/1

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking over hurdles latest when winning a 2m4f contest at Perth on good ground. That form a far cry from what will be needed today however.

Form: 743521-

Some Day Soon⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 135

8/1

Completed a four-timer between May and July culminating in a smooth success at Stratford latest. Likes to front-run but making all in this deeper contest will be a tall order.

Form: 22-1111

Thyme Hill²¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/4

Worcester winner on debut last October subsequently finished second at Listed level at Cheltenham before faring best of the home team in third in the Champion Bumper at the festival. Exciting hurdles recruit is highly respected.

Form: 123-

Trevelyn's Corn^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130WS

5/1

Wincanton maiden winner pitched in at the deep end and rather unsurprisingly struggled at Aintree last April. Remains a bright prospect however and had a wind-op over the summer during his absence.

Form: 1/410-

Win My Wings¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 128

20/1

Consistent sort rewarded with second hurdles success at Worcester last time out in novice company. Big step up in grade today so may struggle.

Form: 1-32231

Non-Runners

Champagne Well¹⁸⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Ruthless Article²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Miss R Curtis J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Thyme Hill (9/4), Fiddlerontheroof (4/1), Trevelyn's Corn (5/1), Harambe (11/2), Champagne Well (6/1), Some Day Soon (8/1), Echiquier (10/1), Diomede Des Mottes (14/1), Ruthless Article (14/1), Win My Wings (20/1), Paint The Dream (33/1)

A very wide open contest this but a chance is taken on hurdles debutant THYME HILL for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson. Last year's Champion Bumper looked a really strong contest and his third to Envoi Allen marks him out as a horse of serious ability. The Hobbs team could have found many easier races than this to start out so he presumably has impressed in his schooling. Fellow hurdles debutant Fiddlerontheroof is a bright prospect and he is preferred to Champagne Well who ran creditably behind Champ when last seen at the Aintree Grand National meeting.