13:50 Chepstow

Monday 22 August 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:40

Dragon Bet Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 24.44s

(3)

Mighty Gurkha^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁷⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 85| BF

11/4

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, good second of 3 in handicap at Yarmouth (6f, good, 10/11) 18 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 787232

(5)

Little Boy Blue^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Sanderson| T: W G M Turner| OR: 83| D

9/2

Latest win at Brighton in May. Only fifth of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW, 9/1) 58 days ago. Can give a good account if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 5-40415

(1)

Newton Jack³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Owen Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: W S Kittow| OR: 74| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Windsor in April. 28/1, last of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 33 days ago so needs to revive.

Form: 126309

(4)

Macs Dilemma^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 73| CD

4/1

C&D winner. 4 wins from 14 runs this year. Latest win here in June. Below-par third of 5 in handicap (3/1) at Brighton (7f, good) 18 days ago but the sort to bounce back.

Form: 132133

(7)

Painless Potter¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rhiain Ingram| T: S Lycett| OR: 73

22/1

First run since leaving Alan King when poor fourth of 7 in minor event at Salisbury (7f, good to firm, 10/1) 11 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 7337-54

(6)

Fangorn¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 69| D

11/2

Latest win at Newbury in July. Back on track when third of 5 in handicap (14/1) at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Weighted to go close eased 1 lb.

Form: 267153

(2)

Gilt Edge^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: William Cox| T: C Mason| OR: 67| C

9/1

Course winner. Creditable third of 7 in handicap (11/2) at Ffos Las (6f, good) 11 days ago. In the mix off 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 4-87353

Forecasts

Mighty Gurkha (11/4), Macs Dilemma (4/1), Little Boy Blue (9/2), Newton Jack (5/1), Fangorn (11/2), Gilt Edge (9/1), Painless Potter (22/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but Newbury scorer FANGORN edges the vote given he can race off 1 lb lower than when a good recent third at Yarmouth. Course winner Gilt Edge is greatly feared though, while both Mighty Gurkha and Macs Dilemma need factoring in too.