16:15 Ffos Las

Saturday 19 October 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1516:5017:20

Low Cost Vans Welsh Champion Hurdle (Limited Handicap)

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 3m 51.00s

Mohaayed^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 152| D

12/1

Finished fourth behind Le Prezien (2nd) in this race last year. Giving that rival 2lb less than last year though, so not impossible for him to reverse that form. 7lb above last winning mark though.

Form: 71479-5

Le Prezien^t²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| D

7/1

Better known as a chaser, but he did start off his 2018/19 campaign in this race last year when runner-up. Major claims if in similar form for his stable who have started the season in great style.

Form: 1P/2570-

Clyne¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 148| CD

7/1

Goes well fresh, as proven by his runner-up effort to Unowhatimeanharry in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m; soft) last November. However, this is his first run over 2m since finishing last of four at Haydock in January 2018.

Form: 13/2540-

Monsieur Lecoq²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 138| CD

7/2

Lightly raced and he made good progress last season, including when successful over C&D. Easy to forgive his effort in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m1f; good to soft). Should have more to offer after just the three starts in handicaps.

Form: 3F1120-

Coole Cody^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: M Blake| OR: 137

16/1

Only posted the one good run last season when runner-up a Sandown (2m7f; soft) in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle. Suffered some heavy defeats either side of that, and 2m is likely to be sharp enough on his seasonal return.

Form: 4P6200-

Colonel Custard¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D A Jacob| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 134| CD

11/4

C&D novice hurdle winner on soft ground back in January. Tailed off after that when pitched into the deep end in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (2m4f; good). Won on seasonal return last year, and shouldn't be totally dismissed.

Form: 115219-

Chti Balko²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| DWS

8/1

Form tailed off last season with no-shows at both Cheltenham (2m1f; good to soft) and Sandown (2m; soft). Dropped in the weights as a result of those performances. Does seem to produce his better runs this side of Christmas. Market check advised.

Form: 2/23390-

Coeur Blimey⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 133| D

11/1

Won on the flat at Newbury (2m2f; soft) in April on ground likely to be similar to what he will be encountering here. Has some good form to his name over hurdles, including when winning a decent quality handicap hurdle at Hereford last December.

Form: 47/0170-

Beltor^v¹⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: R Stephens| OR: 133| D

9/1

Has returned to form in recent months and is now 6lb higher than for his win at Newton Abbot (2m; good to soft) in a decent quality handicap. That was back in May, but he does go well fresh.

Form: 73/184-1

Man Of Plenty^b,t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 127| D

14/1

Made a low-key return to action when only managing to finish eighth at Chepstow (2m3f; soft) on his seasonal reappearance in a good renewal of the Silver Trophy. This doesn't look any easier, and he is unlikely to feature.

Form: 60-0098

Non-Runners

Tombstone³⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: B J Llewellyn J: Robert Williams

Forecasts

Colonel Custard (11/4), Monsieur Lecoq (7/2), Le Prezien (7/1), Clyne (7/1), Chti Balko (8/1), Beltor (9/1), Coeur Blimey (11/1), Mohaayed (12/1), Man Of Plenty (14/1), Coole Cody (16/1), Tombstone (20/1)

A competitive renewal of this race with both Le Prezien (2nd in this last year) and Mohaayed (4th in this last year) closely matched with each other on the form of their encounter in this race last season. The former is fancied to confirm that form off 2lb lower than the mark he ran off last season, despite not being as well off with the latter. They may be playing for places in behind MONSIEUR LECOQ though, who made giant strides as a novice last season, including when second in the Imperial Cup. He already has a C&D win to his name and is strongly fancied to make his mark at this level and get his season off to a winning start.