14:50 Chepstow

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:3013:0513:3514:1014:5015:2515:55

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 8m 21.6s

Elegant Escape^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 160| CD

9/4

Winner of this race off a 13lb lower mark 12 months ago and has placed on both starts this season including when runner-up off this mark in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury (3m2f, good-to-soft) last time out. Leading contender once more.

Form: 1266-23

Yala Enki²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155

8/1

Well beaten 28L 12th in the Ladbrokes Trophy over 3m2f at Newbury (good-to-soft) when making his debut for this yard last month. Interesting runner racing off a mark 1lb higher than when finishing third in this race last year.

Form: 6/1357-0

West Approach¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 150| BF

12/1

Victorious over an extended 3m3f at Cheltenham (soft) in November and put an unseat behind him when 2L third in a 3m2f Grade 3 handicap at the same venue a fortnight ago. One to note in this contest.

Form: 66-21U3

Now Mcginty^p⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 147| C

7/1

Making his seasonal debut when finishing a head second to Grade 1 winner Santini in a Listed chase over 3m at Sandown (soft) last month. Interesting runner stepping up in distance on first appearance in handicap company.

Form: U2128-2

Potters Corner²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 145| C

8/1

Returned to the winners enclosure with victory in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m7f on soft ground here nearly three weeks ago. Stays well having won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) off a 10lb lower mark in March.

Form: F1-5P01

The Two Amigos⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 142| D

8/1

Improved on seasonal debut effort when finishing third in a handicap chase over an extended 3m3f at Fontwell (soft) last month. More needed stepping up in grade if he is to take this event.

Form: 211F-83

Truckers Lodge^p⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| C

10/1

Off the mark at the third time of asking over fences when victorious by ½L in a beginners chase over an extended 2m7f on good-to-soft ground here at the end of October. Represents a top yard upped in distance on handicap debut.

Form: 221-241

Pobbles Bay⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139| C

25/1

Successful over 3m4f at Ffos Las (good) in a handicap chase in April and has run well in a couple of handicap hurdles this campaign and is worth a check in the market off a mark 9lb higher than for that Ffos Las victory.

Form: UF21-24

Pop Rockstar^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| CWS

33/1

Had wind surgery since finishing a well beaten ffith over an extended 3m3f at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Looks up against it off a mark 7lb higher than when winning at Carlisle (good-to-soft) in October.

Form: 72F1-15

Arthur's Gift⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

20/1

Decent effort in finishing 5L second in a 3m handicap chase on heavy ground at Bangor last time out. More needed stepping up in grade and distance if he's to take this event.

Form: 481P-52

Prime Venture^p1⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 135

11/1

Beaten 3½L when fourth to Truckers Lodge in a beginners contest over an extended 2m7f on good-to-soft ground here in October. Wears cheekpieces for the first time on his return to handicap company.

Form: R2349-4

Virginia Chick⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 135| C

16/1

Successful in a 3m novice chase at Exeter (soft) early last month on his second start over fences. Struggled on handicap debut over the same C&D subsequently however and is probably best watched at present.

Form: 410-517

Field Exhibition^h⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 134

50/1

Back from a break when unseating rider in a four runner mares event over an extended 2m7f at Newbury (soft) recently. Stamina to prove stepping up markedly in distance.

Form: 42412U

Captain Chaos^p,t1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 131

14/1

Performed well when finishing runner-up in a Listed handicap chase over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (heavy) last time out. Tongue tie (first time) is added to the cheekpieces worn that day. Racing from out of the handicao on this occasion.

Form: 226-6P2

Space Cadet^p,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: M A Enright| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 130

16/1

Returned to Rules racing with a good 26L fourth in a valuable 3m handicap chase at Navan (soft) last month. Tongue tie and cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are both retained. Racing from out of the handicap.

Form: P/0P-114

Rathlin Rose^b²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

100/1

Well beaten in a cross-country event at Cheltenham (3m6f, soft) last month and contested a voided contest at Sandown subsequently. Looks up against it racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 97-679V

Looks Like Power^h,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 127| C

66/1

Beaten 18L when finishing fifth over an extended 2m7f on soft ground here earlier this month. Stepping up markedly in grade and distance racing from out of the handicap in this event.

Form: 43533-5

Forecasts

Elegant Escape (9/4), Now Mcginty (7/1), Potters Corner (8/1), Yala Enki (8/1), The Two Amigos (8/1), Truckers Lodge (10/1), Prime Venture (11/1), West Approach (12/1), Captain Chaos (14/1), Virginia Chick (16/1), Space Cadet (16/1), Arthur's Gift (20/1), Pobbles Bay (25/1), Pop Rockstar (33/1), Field Exhibition (50/1), Looks Like Power (66/1), Rathlin Rose (100/1)

POTTERS CORNER has a good young conditional jockey in the saddle and he can make his first start over fences this campaign a winning one with victory in a competitive renewal of the Welsh Grand National. Second place can go the way of last years winner Elegant Escape who has run well on both previous starts this season while third place can go to West Approach, who filled the same position at Cheltenham in a competitive affair earlier this month.