14:45 Chepstow

Saturday 12 October 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Gent Transport And Warehousing 45th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 1.7s

Louis' Vac Pouch^h¹⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 141| D

20/1

Improved last year going chasing after joining this handler, winning twice from three completed efforts. Back over timber off summer break and needs best stuff from this mark.

Form: 011F2-U

Highest Sun²¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| CD

15/8

Off the mark over 2m (good to soft) here in February on fourth hurdles start, before struggling in Coral Cup at Cheltenham on final run. Handicapper cuts some slack and Jonjo O'Neill a positive booking.

Form: 1/34210-

Crooks Peak¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| BF| D

4/1

Progressive early season with three hurdles wins, found County Hurdle too hot in March and poor under hold-up ride at Newton Abbot when last spotted in May. Eased 2lb and may do better if positive tactics return.

Form: 41110-4

Howling Milan²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 134| D

9/1

Made all at Newbury in January on third start over timber, winning as he liked. Form has worked out ok and makes handicap bow on seasonal return. Hard to assess but there could be plenty more to come.

Form: 2/D861-

River Bray^t¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 133

33/1

Been around a while but progressed last season, winning novice hurdles at Wincanton and Newton Abbot at up to 2m1f. Fell on chasee debut at Uttoxeter in May and off since. Likely must improve in this company.

Form: 37131-F

Gortroe Joe³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

14/1

Well held last month at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good; 9/2) reverting to hurdles, needs more but eased 3lb now and well capable of scoring from this perch if putting things together.

Form: F1P1-P3

Quoi De Neuf¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127

4/1

Scored on rules bow at Aintree (2m4f, good) last November, though didn't exactly progress in two more outings last season. Early days and this mark shouldn't prove a barrier to success in coming months.

Form: 1/142-

Speed Company^t⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 119| BF

7/1

Six-time winner on the Flat, achieving three-figure rating at best. Placed in all four hurdles starts last winter, capable of going well fresh and on a fair mark if doing so.

Form: 46/2333-

Generous Day¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 118| D

20/1

Couple of wins last season over fences from five attempts, has decent record when fresh but will have to be cherry-ripe from what is a career-high mark.

Form: 3/42171-

Non-Runners

Peter The Mayo Man³⁹⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Teqany³⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Diamond Guy⁵²²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Northofthewall²³²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Highest Sun (15/8), Quoi De Neuf (4/1), Crooks Peak (4/1), Teqany (11/2), Diamond Guy (6/1), Speed Company (7/1), Howling Milan (9/1), Gortroe Joe (14/1), Peter The Mayo Man (14/1), Northofthewall (16/1), Louis' Vac Pouch (20/1), Generous Day (20/1), River Bray (33/1)

Colin Tizzard's HIGHEST SUN looks to have sound claims from a reduced mark here with Jonjo O'Neill further easing his burden. He ran into some good horses last season and has winning C&D form in his locker already, which should count for plenty. There are lots of dangers, with Crooks Peak likely to fair better under positive tactics and the likes of Quoi De Neuf and Gortroe Joe capable of better things. The long-absent Diamond Guy needs monitoring on his comeback.