14:40 Chepstow

Friday 10 June 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4015:1015:4516:20

Michael Maine Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 1m 9.33s

(4)

Twilight Heir¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: F Norton| T: S Durack| OR: 75| D

9/1

Arrives in good heart, runner-up at Lingfield (6f) prior to a creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at Newbury (6f, good to soft, 11/1) 10 days ago, no extra only late on. Fancied to go well again from same mark.

Form: 890325

(10)

Some Nightmare^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 75| CD

3/1

4-time winner last season who has returned in good order, runner-up in handicaps at Wolverhampton/Pontefract prior to resuming winning ways in a 9-runner C&D handicap in April, readily. Sound claims again from 5 lb higher mark.

Form: 324-221

(11)

Michaels Choice¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 72| D

5/1

1 win from 1 run this year. First run since leaving William Jarvis when career best when winning 7-runner handicap (20/1) at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) 13 days ago, staying on well. Claims from revised mark given he's clearly in rude health.

Form: 43536-1

(2)

Gilt Edge^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Gina Mangan⁽⁵⁾| T: C Mason| OR: 72| CD

33/1

C&D winner who shaped as if better for the run when last of 8 in handicap at Leicester (6f, good to firm, 40/1) 18 days ago, weakening final 1f. Has fallen back to last winning mark but others preferred on balance.

Form: 42174-8

(1)

Sarah's Verse²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Harry Davies⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 72| BF| D

7/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in April. Creditable second of 8 in handicap at Bath (5.7f, good, 3/1) 21 days ago, headed only well inside final 1f. Should continue in form and rider takes off valuable 5 lb.

Form: 02-5152

(12)

Oriental Spirit³⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: L P Keniry| T: W S Kittow| OR: 70| BF

16/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 10/11, third of 4 in minor event at Windsor (5.1f, heavy), doing too much too soon. Off 10 months. Makes handicap debut. More required but that not out of the question.

Form: 6/33-

(6)

Bibulous¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: H Candy| OR: 68| BF| D

9/2

Camacho gelding who got off the mark at the second attempt in a Kempton novice (6f) in November. Proved too free when third under a penalty at Wolverhampton (7f) a month later but he remains low mileage ahead of return/handicap debut.

Form: 413-

(5)

Holbache⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: A W Carroll| OR: 66| C| D

12/1

Course winner. Creditable second of 8 in handicap (8/1) at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) 7 days ago, ridden over 2f out and headed last ½f. This looks a little tougher.

Form: 1489-52

(8)

Handytalk¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: R Coakley| T: B R Millman| OR: 66| C| D

14/1

Course winner. Ninth of 11 in handicap at Bath (5f, good to soft, 9/1) 17 days ago, challenging 2f out before weakening final 1f. However, consistency around here is hard to knock and better showing distinctly possible.

Form: 370-529

(9)

Port Noir^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan| T: R Stephens| OR: 64| C| D

28/1

Course winner. Respectable sixth of 12 in handicap (15/2) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 24 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 779246

(7)

Trusty Rusty¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 58

16/1

Respectable sixth of 10 in handicap (11/2) at Wolverhampton (5.1f) in December, racing freely and no extra final 100 yds. Returns from a break now.

Form: 223236-

(3)

Grey Galleon^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 58| D

25/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. 11/1, capitalised on much-reduced mark to end long losing run in 13-runner handicap at Bath (5.7f, good) 21 days ago. Remains fairly treated on old form but this is a deeper contest.

Form: 687-551

Non-Runners

(13)

Follow Your Heart⁹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: D M Loughnane J: Louis Steward

Forecasts

Some Nightmare (3/1), Bibulous (9/2), Michaels Choice (5/1), Sarah's Verse (7/1), Twilight Heir (9/1), Follow Your Heart (10/1), Holbache (12/1), Handytalk (14/1), Trusty Rusty (16/1), Oriental Spirit (16/1), Grey Galleon (25/1), Port Noir (28/1), Gilt Edge (33/1)

SOME NIGHTMARE confirmed the promise of his opening pair of exploits this term when adding a third C&D success to his tally in April and a 5 lb higher mark shouldn't prevent another bold bid now. Michaels Choice who returned to his best on debut for Eve Johnson Houghton to score at Salisbury 2 weeks ago and Follow Your Heart are next best. Handytalk also makes each-way appeal returned to this venue.