15:20 Chepstow

Thursday 6 January 2022

All12:0512:4013:1013:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

Peter Michael Dixon Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 5m 18.90s

Point Of Principle^t,v³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 121| D

50/1

Infrequent winner who has seemed out of sorts over both sets of obstacles this term.

Form: 4/7P-4PP

Affoburg⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 118| D

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler in France who returns from a 3-monnth break starting out for a new yard. Worth a market check.

Form: 342255

Lydford Lad²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 116

25/1

Showed ability on only start in bumpers and left his hurdling debut form well behind when landing a novice at Ffos Las. Disappointing there 3 weeks ago, and open mark seems pretty stiff.

Form: 5/P5-15

Helios Allen³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 115| CD

15/8

Improved to score readily over C&D in November and backed it up with a good third in a race that's proving strong (first two both won next-time-out), so he boasts leading claims.

Form: P-2013

Garincha¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

10/3

Lightly raced for current stable and left previous form behind when powering through to score at Wetherby last time. Type to improve further, so obvious claims under a penalty.

Form: 353-471

Caswell Bay¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 111| CD

11/2

Last success came over C&D almost 2 years ago. Now lower in the weights and shaped as if back in form when fifth over an inadequate trip at Haydock on reappearance, so he's one to consider.

Form: P/9364-5

Voyage De Retour¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: T Lawes| OR: 110

12/1

Fair hurdler who is lightly raced for his age and returns to this sphere after an unproductive couple of tries over fences. Bit to prove.

Form: 824-224

Straight Swap²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 108

8/1

Best effort over hurdles when second in Lingfield novice in November 2020. Seen twice since, and shaped as if he'd strip fitter for the run when fifth at Warwick back from a long absence 28 days ago.

Form: P/8828-5

Jaunty Viking^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: B Eckley| OR: 103

14/1

Off the mark in Ffos Las novice handicap hurdle in June and back from a 6-month absence with a creditable third at Ludlow 15 days ago. May do better still.

Form: 766-313

Kenny George³²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 102| D

20/1

In good order when last seen, finishing second in a 16-runner event at Fontwell, but that was 10 months off, and he needs to return with a career-best effort., so this is a big ask.

Form: 44F/622-

Akkapenko^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Jones| T: D Burchell| OR: 92

14/1

Narrowly failed to make a successful debut for new connections at Bangor in August but went one better 2 starts later at Uttoxeter in November. Seemed amiss at Taunton later that month, though.

Form: 5-02510

Forecasts

Helios Allen (15/8), Garincha (10/3), Caswell Bay (11/2), Straight Swap (8/1), Voyage De Retour (12/1), Jaunty Viking (14/1), Akkapenko (14/1), Kenny George (20/1), Lydford Lad (25/1), Point Of Principle (50/1), Affoburg (66/1)

HELIOS ALLEN arrives on the up and has already shown that he's well suited to the demands of this track, so he's a confident choice to resume winning ways despite the presence of Garincha, who swept through to score convincingly at Wetherby 11 days ago. Jaunty Viking also warrants respect.