17:05 Chepstow

Saturday 12 October 2019

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

John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 4m 58.8s

Whisper¹⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: S Thomas| OR: 158

20/1

Famed for his role in Might Bite's RSA Chase win in 2017, he was an agonising second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury that same year. Just two runs since however and has left Nicky Henderson since below-par hurdles run in May at Haydock.

Form: 22125/7

Charbel¹⁶⁸

5/2

3lb higher than when wining this last year, showed useful form before tailing off in the spring. Underwent wind surgery in off-season; did have a run before competing in this last year.

Form: 2135P6-

Activial¹⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 149| D

8/1

Haydock winner (2m5½f, good) last November on second run for this trainer, also ran fine race in Ultima at Cheltenham Festival (3m1f). Tailed off at Aintree in Becher, can be forgiven that. Will handle soft ground.

Form: 212660-

Caid Du Lin^p,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 145| D

14/1

2-8 last season after joining this yard for chasing career, returns to action needing to improve again and with a slight query over showing his best at this trip.

Form: P21027-

The Bay Birch^t¹⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: M Sheppard| OR: 145| D

20/1

Game sort, won three of four starts in the early part of 2019; he's got career-high mark to defy now however and this trip looks about as sharp as he'll want it.

Form: UP1711-

Theo^h⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| D

9/2

Excellent 4-14 strike-rate over fences and is race-fit after runner-up finishes at Worcester and Kelso last month. Stays this far, second runner for the yard and fitness could be key in forecast conditions.

Form: 4269-22

Doitforthevillage^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 140| CD

11/2

C&D winner in December on soft ground, rated 7lb higher now but ended last term with fine third in Topham at Aintree. Record first-up isn't a source of encouragement.

Form: 312303-

Marracudja^t¹⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| BF

13/2

Finished down the field in this last year as Charbel won, races from the same mark now and probably that testing ground around this track would be a negative.

Form: 763283-

Templehills^h,t¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

15/2

Did his best work for Nigel Twiston-Davies in small fields, starts out for new trainer with a bit to prove in these conditions from high enough mark.

Form: 4FP805-

Aintree My Dream^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: James Best| T: M F Harris| OR: 133| D

25/1

Mixed bag over fences (one win from nine) and was pulled up last month at Newton Abbot over extended-2m. More to prove than a few of these and is overlooked.

Form: FP1-83P

Non-Runners

Valdez²⁰³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 12

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Capeland¹⁹⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Charbel (5/2), Theo (9/2), Doitforthevillage (11/2), Capeland (6/1), Marracudja (13/2), Valdez (7/1), Templehills (15/2), Activial (8/1), Caid Du Lin (14/1), The Bay Birch (20/1), Whisper (20/1), Aintree My Dream (25/1)

Last year's winner Charbel is considered by he did have the benefit of a run when landing this from a 3lb lower mark 12 months ago. Fitness could be key and, on that basis, THEO is fancied to run a big race after runner-up finishes at Worcester and Kelso last month, with this extra yardage within his compass. Paul Nicholls has a fine record in this contest, ensuring Capeland is worth a look while clearly Whisper would go close if able to re-find his form having left Seven Barrows to join the Sam Thomas team.