19:50 Chepstow

Friday 22 April 2022

All16:4517:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Braceys Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 19:51 | Winning time: 4m 5.4s

Bells Of Rutland⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

150/1

Well held sole outing in bumpers and same story on both completed starts in novice hurdles.

Form: 5U45

Big Wing²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: R Hannon

16/1

Fair maiden on the Flat, stays 1½m, down the field in handicap 20 days ago. Makes hurdling debut.

Form:

Dances On The Sand¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

22/1

Kalanisi gelding. Attracted support ahead of his hurdling debut in a Wincanton novice 12 days ago but was never involved. Represents in-form yard but may do better at longer trips later on.

Form: 5

Eye To The Sky²²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: T Lacey| BF

5/2

Telescope gelding. Made his debut in a Fontwell bumper in September and went like the best horse in the race, looking in control before not seeing through his effort. Interesting on stable/hurdle bow.

Form: 3

Howdy Partner³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Davies| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 90

33/1

Third in an Irish bumper last summer but unplaced in points thereafter. Failed to complete in maidens first 2 starts over hurdles before finishing a remote third in Ludlow novice last month.

Form: 365PU3

Lord Bill²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 100

13/2

Showed much more than previously when third in novice hurdle over C&D at the beginning of the month. Needs to be able to back that up.

Form: 877992

Outback Frontiers²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 92

3/1

Had made little impact on his first 4 starts over hurdles but proved a different proposition when runner up in a C&D handicap last month. Others have greater potential.

Form: 9U7672

Welsby¹⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: D Faulkner| OR: 115

16/5

Won sole bumper for Nicky Henderson but well held over hurdles at this C&D nearly 4 years later. Left that run well behind when second here in October. Lesser effort next time but can bounce back.

Form: 1/826

Windy Cove^h1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Williams| T: M Keighley

50/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and down the field at Southwell in both starts over hurdles so far. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 59

This Ones For Fred³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

7/1

Just the one win to his name from 14 starts on the Flat, but had been a pretty consistent performer. However, dropped away on his hurdling debut at Stratford last month having been close up 2 out.

Form: 6

Vendange²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J Tickle

200/1

Well held sole start on Flat for Richard Hannon and little promise on stable/hurdle debut in a C&D novice 20 days ago.

Form: 0

Non-Runners

Benandgone²⁰

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: B Barr J: Thomas Doggrell

Bear A Hand

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: R J Price J: G Sheehan

Iskar D'airy¹⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Eye To The Sky (5/2), Outback Frontiers (3/1), Welsby (16/5), Iskar D'airy (10/3), Benandgone (6/1), Lord Bill (13/2), This Ones For Fred (7/1), Big Wing (16/1), Dances On The Sand (22/1), Howdy Partner (33/1), Windy Cove (50/1), Bear A Hand (50/1), Bells Of Rutland (150/1), Vendange (200/1)

EYE TO THE SKY shaped with promise on his debut in a Fontwell bumper, going like the best horse, and can build on that to make a successful start over hurdles for his new yard. Welsby's 3 runs over hurdles have all been at this course and he finished a good second on his penultimate outing, with French bumper winner Iskar d'Airy completing the shortlist on his hurdles bow.