12:50 Chepstow

Saturday 9 January 2021

All11:4512:1712:5013:2513:5814:3015:1015:50

Coral 'Fail To Finish' Free Bets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:52 | Winning time: 6m 1.20s

Ask Dillon^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 143| BF| D

4/1

Dual winner over hurdles as a novice and placed in a couple of staying handicaps last season. Showed no ill-effects from a fall on chase debut when posting good in-frame efforts back hurdling since.

Form: 320-F42

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Nordano^p⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: N B King| OR: 140| C

33/1

Did well last season, culminating in 19f Ascot handicap win (heavy) in February, but he does need to bounce back from a disappointing run over 2m at Cheltenham in October. Up markedly in trip.

Form: 34321-5

Clyne²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139

12/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2018 but did bounce back to form when second of 9 in handicap hurdle (5/1) at Haydock (3m, heavy) 21 days ago. Ought to be competitive.

Form: 358-002

Sykes⁶⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 137| CD

50/1

Landed a Pertemps qualifier from 6 lb higher in February 2019. Struggled to recapture that form (lightly raced) and well held on reappearance, albeit that run was very likely needed.

Form: P/3P44-0

Storm Arising³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136

6/1

Winning reappearance at Lingfield in November and even better form when second (Farrants Way third) over 3m at Sandown (heavy) since. Further 2 lb rise unlikely to prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 4430-12

Flashjack⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 135| D

22/1

Successful in mud at Haydock at this time last year. Returned with an encouraging effort at Aintree and not disgraced in a very competitive event at Haydock since.

Form: 3518-58

Perfect Man^p,t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 134| CD

40/1

Gained a third win in his last 5 hurdle starts when seeing off Niblawi in 20.5f Leicester seller last month. Sold out of Olly Murphy's yard for £9,000 at the subsequent auction.

Form: 1516-41

Boyhood²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George| OR: 133| D

80/1

Starting to look well treated on his peak efforts but hasn't been close to his best in 2 outings this term. Others more obvious.

Form: 163P-49

Illegal Model^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131

9/1

Well held sole point start but winning debut under Rules in 23f Lingfield novice hurdle in the mud a year ago. Solid start to life in handicaps this term and remains unexposed.

Form: 61-35

Exploiteur³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 129| CD

16/5

Improver in handicaps this season, runner-up on return at Bangor prior to scoring at Ffos Las and over C&D. Further 6 lb rise looks manageable and trip/ground fine, so he needs considering.

Form: 045-211

Farrants Way³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127| BF

3/1

Showed waywardness in bumpers but no sign of that when making winning hurdle debut at Hereford in March. Even better form when third (Storm Arising second) in Sandown handicap on return. More to come.

Form: 343/1-3

Oscar Asche^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 115| D

40/1

Winning pointer who opened hurdles account in a maiden hurdle here last January. Has failed to complete all 3 starts switched to fences this season and needs to bounce back returned to this sphere.

Form: 142-PUP

Forecasts

Farrants Way (3/1), Exploiteur (16/5), Ask Dillon (4/1), Storm Arising (6/1), Illegal Model (9/1), Clyne (12/1), Flashjack (22/1), Nordano (33/1), Perfect Man (40/1), Oscar Asche (40/1), Sykes (50/1), Boyhood (80/1)

FARRANTS WAY had Storm Arising ahead of him in second when third at Sandown last month but it was a very encouraging return to action from Venetia Williams' lightly-raced 7-y-o and he's taken to build on that and turn the tables on his old rival. Illegal Model is another who ran well in that same Sandown contest and also makes the shortlist along with progressive C&D winner Exploiteur.