15:45 Chepstow

Monday 17 January 2022

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:15

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 5m 12.20s

Breizh Alko⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 100

4/1

Won 23f Haydock handicap hurdle for Rebecca Menzies in March 2019. Not seen again until fifth in Lingfield handicap chase for new yard last month, not jumping well. Can do better back hurdling.

Form: 2661/5

Rock Of Star³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 99

4/1

Has shown ability in his qualifying runs and has an unexposed profile now handicapping.

Form: F-76

Thebellsofshandon⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: P Henderson| OR: 96

25/1

Modest maiden for Mouse Morris in Ireland, pulling up in Limerick handicap when last seen in November. Betting perhaps the best guide now setting out for a new stable.

Form: 88P-77P

Gyllen²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 93

25/1

One-time smart on the Flat in France but has yet to better modest form over hurdles, including in a couple of handicaps last spring. Goes up in trip back from 7 months off.

Form: 7074-7

The Wire Flyer^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 89

9/2

Off the mark in 2m Ffos Las conditionals' handicap hurdle last February. Below par in 2 runs back from a break last month but he has edged back to a workable mark.

Form: 3B2-586

Janeslittlevoice³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: R G Hawker| OR: 88

12/1

Showed a bit in a trio of novice events early in 2020 but hasn't offered much in 3 Exeter handicaps since returning from her absence. Has plenty to prove.

Form: 455/P08

Advantura¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 87

17/2

Half-brother to couple of quite useful sorts. No impact in 3 Exeter novice hurdles around 2m this winter but he strikes as one who could do better now handicapping over further. Interesting.

Form: 804

Bilboa River¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 86

12/1

Ex-pointer who hasn't offered a great deal over hurdles, pulling up at Hereford 13 days ago. Hard to fancy.

Form: 40675P

Jesse's Lady²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: D Faulkner| OR: 83

14/1

Modest form shown in two runs over hurdles in 2019/20 for Bernard Llewellyn. Off 2 years. well beaten on 2m course return/yard debut on Welsh National day but stands more chance now handicapping.

Form: 058/9

True Thoughts^b,t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 76

9/2

Sole win came at Wincanton (2m) back in November 2019. Recorded a couple of respectable efforts back from an absence in November. Blinkers refitted. Each-way claims.

Form: 4P9/5-35

Non-Runners

Bullion³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: Evan Williams J: Miss Eleanor Williams

Forecasts

Rock Of Star (4/1), Breizh Alko (4/1), True Thoughts (9/2), The Wire Flyer (9/2), Advantura (17/2), Janeslittlevoice (12/1), Bilboa River (12/1), Jesse's Lady (14/1), Bullion (14/1), Gyllen (25/1), Thebellsofshandon (25/1)

In a contest where few arrive with compelling claims it might be worth chancing BREIZH ALKO, who was let down by his jumping switched to fences on his return from a long absence but he did hint at retaining ability and the handicapper has dropped him 5 lb ahead of this return to hurdles. Advantura has the profile of a possible improver in handicaps so he's feared most ahead of True Thoughts.