14:37 Chepstow

Thursday 25 March 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:0714:3715:0715:37

Arabesque Table BookOfTheMonth April oliversbookshop.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 11.3s

Still Believing^p²⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 102| CD

22/1

Ended long losing run at Hereford in October but disappointing since and generally hard to rely on these days.

Form: 4PP1P3

Triangle Rock^t¹¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 95WS

40/1

Runner-up twice in handicap hurdles for Keith Dalgleish but neither outing for this stable has contained any promise, including chasing debut at Wetherby 110 days ago. Something to prove.

Form: 2022/6P

Celma Des Bois¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 92

13/2

Below par since returning from a lengthy absence last March, flattered by finishing position when runner-up at Chepstow on last completed outing. Not a forlorn hope in a race that lacks depth.

Form: 1/P-552U

Hepburn^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 92

10/1

Long-standing maiden who has performed with credit the last twice and was a bit better than the result when fourth in a handicap at this course last month. Not discounted.

Form: 4P-PU34

Cheer's Delboy^b1¹⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J E Moore| T: R Dickin| OR: 91

22/1

Modest hurdler who has offered no encouragement this term, including when back over fences at Southwell 102 days ago. Tried in blinkers.

Form: 6665/0P

Abbey Street¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 88

50/1

Winless between the flags and under Rules. No encouragement from either outing over fences.

Form: 2/P84P8

Bignorm¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 87

15/8

Hasn't had much racing over fences and looked better than ever when bolting up at Leicester 13 days ago. Should take all the beating if in the same form.

Form: 7F-9321

Write It Down^p,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Adrian Heskin| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 87

5/1

Winning reappearance at Perth in August and while generally out of sorts since, he's becoming dangerously well handicapped and there was mild encouragement at Exeter last time. One to consider.

Form: 42P556

Chain Smoker^p1⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 79

40/1

Pulled up on both outings for Gary Moore this season and hard to make any sort of case for despite the fitting of cheekpieces by his new stable.

Form: 0517-PP

Arthur's Reuben^p,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: S Curran| OR: 76| D

7/1

Becoming well handicapped but has made an uninspiring start for his current stable, so best watched for the time being.

Form: 34U6-4P

Touch Screen^p,t1¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 75

33/1

Well held on all 3 starts since scoring in January last season, off 12 months prior to latest effort at Leicester. Tongue tie now applied, but he's easy enough to oppose.

Form: 37/167-6

Dorado Dollar^t1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 70

7/1

Modest maiden who has struggled for form over both sets of obstacles this term. Up against it from out of the weights.

Form: 4308P5

Non-Runners

Danseur Du Large³⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: P Gundry J: Nick Scholfield

Hedgeinator¹⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: R Stephens J: Sean Houlihan

Beyond Supremacy²⁷

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: Mrs H E Rees J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Bignorm (15/8), Write It Down (5/1), Celma Des Bois (13/2), Arthur's Reuben (7/1), Dorado Dollar (7/1), Hepburn (10/1), Danseur Du Large (10/1), Hedgeinator (16/1), Beyond Supremacy (20/1), Still Believing (22/1), Cheer's Delboy (22/1), Touch Screen (33/1), Chain Smoker (40/1), Triangle Rock (40/1), Abbey Street (50/1)

BIGNORM appears to be thriving all of a sudden and, in a weak affair, he's difficult to oppose bidding to defy a rise for his facile success at Leicester recently. Write It Down is one to note in the market from an ominous mark and Hepburn has been running well of late, so she can't be ruled out.