15:30 Chepstow

Friday 18 November 2022

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

Watkins And Gunn Solicitors Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 4m 56.7s

Charlie's Glance^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 115| BF

16/5

Newbury bumper winner who justified strong support on handicap debut at Worcester in April. Pulled up next time but back on track when third of 6 at Kempton 11 days ago. Shortlisted with tongue strap reapplied.

Form: 2321-P3

Cawthorne Lad³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114

17/2

Continued his run of creditable efforts on his first 2 starts of the current season, runner-up at Worcester (23f) in September. However, seemed unsuited by the track when below-par at Fakenham (20f) last month. Could bounce back.

Form: 633-324

Winds Of Fire¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

20/1

Won over fences at Newcastle in November 2021 but has lost his way since the turn of the year, well-beaten last of 6 in handicap hurdle at Warwick when last seen in May. Has enough to prove.

Form: 137P6-6

Operation Manna²⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 112

9/4

Winner of a Worcester bumper first time out and confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when scoring at Exeter in March, despite looking still in need of the experience. Can make a winning return now going handicapping.

Form: 121-

Iberio^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 110| D

5/2

Much improved in cheekpieces once sent into handicaps last term, scoring at Taunton (19f) on his final 2 starts of the campaign. Made no impression on the winner but ran respectably when second on return at Worcester. Not taken lightly.

Form: 47611-2

Method Madness^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 110| BF

22/1

Shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when sixth at Ludlow on his chasing debut in January. After 9 months off, failed to meet expectations back over hurdles at the same course 29 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 42/756-6

Barrowmount¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 108

125/1

Made a winning hurdles debut at Stratford (22f) in May last year. However, off 16 months after his only other start that season and has failed to complete twice in recent weeks. Best watched.

Form: 2/313-FP

Rossbeigh Strand²⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 107

8/1

Fair form when in the frame in novice hurdles here and at Wetherby during the winter. Allotted stiff mark on the back of it and was only fourth of 8 on handicap bow at Ffos Las in March. More needed now upped in trip.

Form: P19/244-

The Wire Flyer^b¹⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 78

66/1

Ffos Las winner at the start of 2021 but has rarely threatened to add to his tally since. Easy enough to look elsewhere from a long way out of the handicap.

Form: 6695U-0

Non-Runners

Forever Des Long¹⁹⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Miss C Dyson J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Operation Manna (9/4), Iberio (5/2), Charlie's Glance (16/5), Rossbeigh Strand (8/1), Cawthorne Lad (17/2), Forever Des Long (12/1), Winds Of Fire (20/1), Method Madness (22/1), The Wire Flyer (66/1), Barrowmount (125/1)

OPERATION MANNA has won 2 of his 3 starts so far despite not looking the finished article, confirming the promise of his hurdling debut with success at Exeter when last seen in March. The 6-y-o remains open to improvement and can make a winning handicap debut on his return, with Iberio feared most ahead of Charlie's Glance.