15:30 Chepstow

Friday 4 February 2022

All13:2013:5514:2515:0015:3016:0016:35

Mr Gwyn Jones Retirement Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 7m 32.1s

Ashfield Paddy⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122| BF

7/1

Went close despite some less than fluent jumping on return at Bangor (20.3f) in November and looked set to be placed when brought down 2 out at Ffos Las next time. One to bear in mind back up in trip.

Form: 332-P2B

Another Emotion^v1²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120

25/1

Career-best effort when forging clear to score at Carlisle (24.5f) in March. Feasible to think last month's Exeter return was needed and better showing anticipated equipped with first-time visor.

Form: 17U21-P

Al Roc^t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 120

50/1

Smart chaser in France who, whilst below that level, ran best race on these shores when third at Plumpton (25.7f) last month. However, did shape like a non-stayer, and all wins gained over shorter.

Form: 25-80P3

La Cavsa Nostra⁸¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| CD

12/1

Point winner who was on the up over fences when last seen, doubling career tally at Sedgefield (26.2f) in November 2019. Must have had an issue to be absent since though, and market best guide here.

Form: 9031U1/

Ballyrath^p²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 119

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who defied a lengthy absence at big odds when scoring at Wetherby (3m) last month, tackled over the last but keeping on well. Not ruled out with a repeat.

Form: 21414/1

Volcano^p,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 117

33/1

Form: 09UP64

Silver In Disguise^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115| C

12/1

Back-to-back winner over fences 12 months ago (including here) and easily his best effort since when runner-up at Exeter (19f) last month, plugging on. Well worth another crack at this longer trip.

Form: 911-872

Butterwick Brook⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

18/1

Atypically showed plenty of heart as he opened his account over fences at Wincanton (25f) in December. However, not in anything like the same form when pulled up at that venue on Boxing Day.

Form: P-3621P

Landsman^t,v³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

40/1

Record under various codes is patchy but was at least going with zest in face of a stiff task when falling in a strong race here (23.6f) in December. This is more suitable.

Form: 00-24PF

Wayfinder³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 113| CD

9/2

Low-mileage 7-y-o who ended 2020 with success over C&D from this mark. Brought down on return at Bangor but still some way below best at Newbury later that month.

Form: 61/21-B6

Dr Kananga^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 113| BF

7/2

Point winner who landed a maiden hunter at Hexham (3m) in May. Good second on handicap debut here (23.6f) in November and may have overdone front-running tactics at Plumpton since. Not discounted.

Form: 1/43-125

Eceparti⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 111| C

11/2

Dual chase winner (at up to 21f) who proved expensive to follow off his slipping mark last season. Did offer something to work on when third here (23.6f) on return in November though. Worth a look.

Form: 33344-3

Endless Flight⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 108

25/1

Fair hurdles winner who wasn't beaten far when sixth of 9 on handicap chase debut at Exeter (3m) in November. That was a messy race however, and others appeal more on balance for win purposes.

Form: 1P3/9P-6

Petite Power³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105| D

12/1

Veteran who again ran to a fair level when 10 lengths fourth of 10 at Ffos Las (23.8f) early last month. Handicapper has relinquished his grip a little more and claims of hitting the frame again.

Form: 870424

Mouseinthehouse²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 101

20/1

Landed back-to-back 2m handicap chase contests 8 months apart in 2020. Encouraging return third at FFos Las (23.8f) in November but pulled up latest and this the longest trip he's tackled.

Form: 743-37P

Irish Octave^p⁵⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 96| C

100/1

Won 4 times in 2018/19 but very lightly raced since and behind when pulled up before 5 out on belated return to action at Uttoxeter (22.5f) in December. This should reveal more at least.

Form: 315F7/P

Kingsmill Gin³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 90| D

16/1

9-y-o mare who showed improved form to shed the maiden tag at Taunton (26f) in December, going on last and driven clear. Still low mileage over fences but this tougher from 4 lb out of the weights.

Form: 08P-F51

Forecasts

Dr Kananga (7/2), Wayfinder (9/2), Eceparti (11/2), Ashfield Paddy (7/1), Silver In Disguise (12/1), La Cavsa Nostra (12/1), Ballyrath (12/1), Petite Power (12/1), Kingsmill Gin (16/1), Butterwick Brook (18/1), Mouseinthehouse (20/1), Another Emotion (25/1), Endless Flight (25/1), Volcano (33/1), Landsman (40/1), Al Roc (50/1), Irish Octave (100/1)

This looks decidedly trappy and it may be worth taking a chance on ANOTHER EMOTION. He was below his best on return at Exeter last month but took a sizeable step forward from his first to second outing last season, and with a first-time visor potentially putting an extra edge on him, a much better showing could be on the way. Ashfield Paddy, Eceparti and Silver In Disguise are also worth a look.