13:00 Chepstow

Wednesday 6 November 2019

All13:0013:3514:0514:4015:1015:4516:15

Racing Welfare Supporting Racing's Workforce Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 7.40s

Drewmain Legend²¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 98| C

16/1

Twice a course winner over further rounding off last season with a chasing win (2m4f, first-time blinkers) matching her hurdles form after a below-par debut in that sphere. Back over hurdles off 3lb higher for her seasonal pipe opener.

Form: 1/45041-

Definite Winner^t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 93| DWS

40/1

Dual hurdles winner who was well below form on her reappearance this season (has had a wind op since). Best form has come on ground better than this and this front-runner could struggle in the conditions; stable rather quiet at the moment.

Form: 38-15F8

Clearly Capable³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: D Burchell| OR: 93

4/1

Usual cheekpieces left off when attempting to make all after 14 months off (had wind surgery) at Uttoxeter last time (shaped as well as ever). Up 3lb for that run it leaves him 4lb above his last winning mark; struggled for consistency in the past.

Form: 97F22-2

Sign Of War^v³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 92

3/1

Modest over hurdles (still a maiden), attracted support last time at Uttoxeter when halting his form slide off a plummeting mark (looked in a better mood). Yard still rather quiet, work to do with Clearly Capable on his last run; hard to be positive.

Form: 349-6P4

Ifandabut¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 86

12/1

Showed his first real form when improving to win on his third handicap start (noticeably shorter in the market than his two previous efforts) when scoring at Exeter in January (2m, soft). Would have needed the run last time on comeback; small chance.

Form: 8/0010-0

All Good Things^b,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 84

7/1

Form overall is rather modest; out of sorts during last season and struggling to regain even a modicum of form. Well held last time over a longer trip (2m6f) at Hereford, may well have needed the run/found the distance too testing.

Form: 074870

Minnie Escape^b⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 74| CD

3/1

Having shown that she can be less than straightforward previously none of those quirks appeared to be on display when she scored over C&D last time (made most). 4lb well-in under a 7lb penalty; remains to be seen if she is in the same form this time.

Form: P65351

Shadow's Girl^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 78| CD

7/1

Returned in a race she won the previous year over C&D to finish a creditable fifth to Minnie Escape off a 1lb lower mark. Would need to come on from that run to reverse the form but one of the sounder types in this.

Form: 254-645

Bigchextocash¹⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: T Scudamore| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 75

20/1

Appeared the sort that would improve once he was qualified for handicaps but has failed to impress on either start in that sphere (in headgear both times; now removed). Showed little when he was last seen; one to treat with caution.

Form: P/468-07

Non-Runners

Boutan⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: G Harris J: Ben Jones

Mo Tottie²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: P & M Bowen J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Sign Of War (3/1), Minnie Escape (3/1), Clearly Capable (4/1), Shadow's Girl (7/1), All Good Things (7/1), Boutan (7/1), Ifandabut (12/1), Mo Tottie (12/1), Drewmain Legend (16/1), Bigchextocash (20/1), Definite Winner (40/1)

There is always a doubt that the previously quirky MINNIE ESCAPE will fail to build on her impressive win here last time where she left a fair few of her rivals trailing in her wake under a good positive ride but she’s well-in at the weights and is hard to ignore. Drewmain Legend despite giving weight away all round has a reasonable chance having twice won around here with Clearly Capable another to throw into the mix after his good second at Uttoxeter. If there was any market interest in Ifandbut he would be an outsider to note. Shadow’s Girl and Boutan are two others that would more than likely just have a place chance at most.