14:20 Chepstow

Friday 18 November 2022

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 4m 9.31s

Arthalot^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall

18/1

Fair on Flat (below form of late) and offered something to work on sent hurdling in first-time cheekpieces at Wincanton in March. Entitled to do better but needs a big step forward.

Form: 5-

Bertie Wooster²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tizzard

28/1

Nice pedigree but offered little when a well-backed second favourite in an Exeter bumper on debut in April. Clearly thought capable of better and could prove a different proposition now jumping.

Form: 9-

Clay^h²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

40/1

fairly useful maiden on Flat for Richard Hannon (stays 1¼m), well held in Newbury handicap sole outing in 2022. Hood retained for hurdle/stable debut and worth a look in the betting.

Form:

Doyen Star²²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

5/2

€22,000 3-y-o, £120,000 4-y-o, Doyen gelding. Closely related to fair hurdler Hophornbeam, stays 2½m, and half-brother to bumper winner/fair hurdler Mr Jackman, stays 2¾m. Won sole start in Irish points in April and subsequently bought for £120,000. Interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: 1-

Leissieres Express²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott

50/1

Showed fair form when placed on the first of 2 starts in bumpers but bled when well held in maiden hurdles 8 months apart. Can only be watched.

Form: 350-9

Mountain Leopard⁶⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| BF

6/1

Bumper winner who was in need of the experience when runner-up on Plumpton hurdling debut (20.5f) in December 2020. Failed to match that form at Ludlow the following month and not seen since but he's still worth a market check.

Form: 315226/

Mr Snow Way²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

50/1

Half-brother to very smart hurdler/winning chaser Summerville Boy but just minor promise in bumpers and offered little making hurdling debut in a first-time hood at this venue last month.

Form: 46-0

Oman¹⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

9/2

Useful on Flat for Ralph Beckett (stays 14.5f), though failed to beat a rival last 2 starts. Has to enter calculations on hurdle debut.

Form:

Onnaroll^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

150/1

Hooded and showed nothing on hurdling debut over C&D last month.

Form: 0

Picks Lad¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| D

13/8

Not bred to be much but overcame inexperience to make a winning bumper debut at Ayr (16f, good) in May, rallying to lead again dying strides. Sold out of Micky Hammond's yard for £60,000 later that month and rates an interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: 1

Scherbobalob²⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph

66/1

Out of a mare that was a fairly useful jumper but he's shown just modest form at best on the Flat (stays 2m). Hard to fancy.

Form:

The Rain King^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn

33/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 8.5f), successful at Windsor in May but has been below form since and was well held on his Taunton hurdling debut in March.

Form: 0/

Unspeakable¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

50/1

Headed in second when fell last sole start in Irish points. Hinted at ability completed start over hurdles but won't be of interest until handicapping back over further.

Form: F-F0

Double Or Quits¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn

150/1

Has shaped with little encouragement in a bumper/maiden hurdle 8 months apart.

Form: 7-P

Whenthepennydrops³⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

16/1

Took a step forward from hurdling/stable debut when fourth of 10 in 2m novice at Southwell. Off 11 months but she can't be dismissed.

Form: 5/64-

Forecasts

Picks Lad (13/8), Doyen Star (5/2), Oman (9/2), Mountain Leopard (6/1), Whenthepennydrops (16/1), Arthalot (18/1), Bertie Wooster (28/1), The Rain King (33/1), Clay (40/1), Leissieres Express (50/1), Mr Snow Way (50/1), Unspeakable (50/1), Scherbobalob (66/1), Double Or Quits (150/1), Onnaroll (150/1)

Those with hurdling experience don't set the bar all that high, so DOYEN STAR, who was bought for £120,000 after winning his sole outing in Irish po ints, could be up to the task. Picks Lad isn't bred to be much but showed a good attitude to make a winning bumper debut at Ayr in May and has subsequently joined Kim Bailey. Oman, a useful performer on the Flat, and Whenthepennydrops are others to consider.