13:35 Chepstow

Friday 27 December 2019

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

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:37 | Winning time: 4m 1.00s

Allmankind^h,t⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

6/5

Maintained his unbeaten record over jumps when winning a Grade 2 event over an extended 2m at Cheltenham (soft) by 2½L last month. Represents a top yard and looks likely to play a leading role in this contest.

Form: 11

Art Of Diplomacy¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby

100/1

Successful on soft ground on the Flat at Hamilton (1m4f) in September but has failed to figure in two starts over hurdles. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 47

Cerberus^t²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: J P O'Brien| D

5/2

Winning for the second time in three starts over hurdles when victorious in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding-to-soft) at the start of this month. Hails from a leading stable and holds strong claims once more.

Form: 211

Elysian Flame^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: M & D Easterby

6/1

Useful handicapper on the Flat and showed ability when 9L third in a 2m1f event on hurdling debut at Cheltenham (soft) earlier this month. Improvement likely and is a notable runner with cheekpieces tried for the first time.

Form: 3

Jean Genie⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

40/1

Six race maiden in France but a decent race when 4L fourth in a chase over an extended 2m1f at Auteuil (very soft) in September. Probably best watched on debut for this yard.

Form: 76-4544

Nordano^p1⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 123| CD

20/1

Winner over C&D on soft ground in October but has been beaten twice since including when 14L fourth to Allmankind over an extended 2m at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 1134

Tavus²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| D

11/2

Winner of three races on the Flat and off the mark at the first attempt over hurdles when winning by a neck at Newcastle (2m, heavy) on stable debut at the end of last month. Interesting to see how he fares in this event.

Form: 1

Maskada¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: S Edmunds| D

14/1

Built on a couple of placed efforts in bumper company when winning by a short-head in a 2m maiden event on hurdling debut at Warwick (soft) earlier this month. More needed upped in grade if she is to take this contest however.

Form: 331

Non-Runners

I Like Him¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: A Stronge J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Allmankind (6/5), Cerberus (5/2), Tavus (11/2), Elysian Flame (6/1), Maskada (14/1), Nordano (20/1), Jean Genie (40/1), I Like Him (50/1), Art Of Diplomacy (100/1)

A decent looking renewal of this Grade 1 event can go the way of Irish raider CERBERUS who has the trip and forecast ground to suit having won in Graded company at Fairyhouse on his most recent start. Second place can go to Allmankind who is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles while third place can go to Tavus who is the winner of his sole start over hurdles to date.