15:45 Chepstow

Monday 5 April 2021

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:50

Esco BMC Combination Stakes Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 6m 11.50s

Crievehill¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

11/2

Kicked off last term with victories at Wetherby/Haydock but he's failed to make an impact in handful of starts so far this campaign. Mark continues to ease rapidly and needs to show more.

Form: 9-80640

Ballycross⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124| BF| D

3/1

Unreliable type but well treated and shaped with encouragement on first 2 starts for new yard this term. Well backed but failed to build on that promise at Ludlow since but is worth another chance.

Form: 272-534

Buster Thomas¹¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 122

5/2

Fairly useful chaser who returned from 20-month layoff in excellent form, placed again at Wincanton in November. Went out like a light at Ludlow a month later but is one to note after a break.

Form: 1/2232P

Dr Robin^b,t⁵⁵⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 119| D

22/1

Arrives on the back of a lengthy absence having rattled off a chase/hurdles 4-timer back in 2019. Found things too competitive on final start that year and likely to need this outing.

Form: 51111P-

Gleno⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 119| D

5/2

Improved efforts after wind surgery when winning 3m novice handicap chases at Lingfield and Fakenham in autumn. Has continued in good nick with ¾l second of 7 to Ocean Cove at Doncaster. Solid claims.

Form: 43-1152

Petite Power³⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: R T Dunne| T: D Burchell| OR: 117| D

14/1

Veteran who wasn't disgraced when fourth in a competitive Cheltenham handicap chase in November. Not in the same form since, though, and it's best to look elsewhere on first start for new yard.

Form: P-047PP

Non-Runners

Django Django⁷⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Thomas Patrick¹⁴⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: T Lacey J: Bryony Frost

Forecasts

Gleno (5/2), Buster Thomas (5/2), Ballycross (3/1), Crievehill (11/2), Django Django (6/1), Petite Power (14/1), Thomas Patrick (20/1), Dr Robin (22/1)

A chance is taken on Emma Lavelle's BUSTER THOMAS, who returned from 20 months off in excellent form last summer and could be ready to roll again after a break. Ballycross shaped with promise on his first 2 starts for his new yard and should be in the mix from this sort of mark. Gleno bounced back to form when finishing runner-up at Doncaster last time and completes the shortlist.