15:50 Chepstow

Thursday 6 January 2022

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

Coral Fail To Finish Free Bets Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 5m 31.8s

Broken Quest^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 121

10/1

Prolific hurdles winner who opened chase account at Ludlow (20f) last March. Mixed bag has followed, disappointing over larger obstacles at Leicester just over 3 weeks ago.

Form: PF5-P23

Thomas Patrick^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 117| C

10/1

Big improver over fences a few of seasons back, winner of Grade 3 Aintree handicap in 2018. However, has shown no form in over 3 years now so easily opposed.

Form: P4PP/P-8

Gemirande²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117

5/2

Ex-French gelding who opened account on these shores in 2m Wetherby novice hurdle in November 2020. Mixed record after, but his second on return over fences suggested he won't be far away here.

Form: P1P70-2

Enormouse¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 115

9/1

Showed fair level of ability when placed in maiden/novice company at this track on final 2 starts of last season but well held on return/handicap debut recently. Makes chase debut today.

Form: 205/23-0

Destin D'Ajonc^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111| CD

9/4

Produced best effort over fences/for this yard to gain a first success in Britain over C&D last February and shaped as if better for the run after a wind op on reappearance. High on the shortlist.

Form: 52139-5

Lord Bryan^p,t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 108| CD

22/1

Unreliable type who ended a losing run stretching more than 2 years in 6-runner handicap chase at Market Rasen in June. Failed to fire since, so not one to be interested in currently.

Form: 1PP635

Mouseinthehouse³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 106

5/1

Arrives in decent nick, seventh of 12 in handicap chase (12/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 33 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 2743-37

El Hageb Rose⁸⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 97

16/1

Some promise over hurdles in 2018/19 and a bad mistake essentially ended his hopes on chase debut at Kempton over 2 years ago. Clearly had his problems so this should reveal what ability remains.

Form: 667226/

Non-Runners

The Mighty Arc²⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: C E Longsdon J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Destin D'Ajonc (9/4), Gemirande (5/2), The Mighty Arc (3/1), Mouseinthehouse (5/1), Enormouse (9/1), Broken Quest (10/1), Thomas Patrick (10/1), El Hageb Rose (16/1), Lord Bryan (22/1)

A few in with a shout but DESTIN D'AJONC shaped as though better for the run on the back of wind surgery when fifth on reappearance at Uttoxeter just under 3 weeks ago. That will have blown away any cobwebs so, having been dropped 2 lb, he's put forward as the answer. Gemirande made a pleasing return at Southwell recently and can provide the main threat, ahead of The Mighty Arc.