13:37 Chepstow

Saturday 3 December 2022

All11:5312:2713:0213:3714:1214:4715:22

Coral Welsh Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 6m 4.12s

Secret Investor^t⁶⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158| CD

14/1

Very smart chaser and unbeaten in 2 outings at this track but has been off for 21 months since landing Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury. Market should reveal expectations.

Form: 202101/

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Caribean Boy^p²⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| D

17/2

Grade 2 winner as a novice who regained winning thread at Kempton (3m) back in January. However, added to a fairly patchy record when pulled up at Ascot when last seen in February. Still, he's certainly no forlorn hope on pick of his form on seasonal bow.

Form: 7P/0F1P-

Elegant Escape^b,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 142| C| D

20/1

Welsh National winner in 2018. Proved he retains a useful level of ability when ending last term with success in a veterans' event at Ascot (23.8f) and should strip fitter for recent return.

Form: P3PU1-6

Bennys King²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| C

40/1

Smart handicap chaser at his best but ran poorly both starts last season and no promise on return last month.

Form: 123/PP-P

Time To Get Up^p,t²²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

14/1

Progressive novice chaser, readily landing the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. Interrupted campaign last term, best effort when third in Midlands National at Uttoxeter. Record suggests he may need this after 7 months off.

Form: 11/0230-

Farinet²⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| BF

5/1

Ex-French chaser who scored readily at Sandown (20f) last season before failing to get home upped to 3m when fifth there next time. Poor show final start, however, and stamina a concern on return.

Form: 31/P15P-

Secret Reprieve³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134| CD

9/2

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 season. Not seen again until finishing a well-held fifth in last year's renewal of that race and no show both starts since, though looked and shaped as if in need of the run on return.

Form: F11/5P-9

Southfield Harvest^p1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| C| D

9/2

Very much a chasing type and he went in at the first time of asking in this sphere in 3m2f novice at Newton Abbot 18 months ago. Let down by jumping at Fontwell on belated return and this is even more competitive. Headgear on.

Form: 1223/1-P

Wayfinder^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: P J Brennan| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 130| CD

85/40

Low-mileage 8-y-o who enhanced his excellent record around here when completing a C&D hat-trick in this headgear on return. Sure to make another bold bid up in class.

Form: 62P11-1

Grand Mogul²⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 128| C

66/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who made a successful debut over fences at Kelso on last season's return. However, has gone the wrong way since so starts the new campaign with something to prove (subsequently sold from Nicky Henderson £11,000 in May).

Form: 152/1P3-

Non-Runners

Grumpy Charley²⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: C Honour J: Non Runner

Nearly Perfect⁶⁸¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: N B King J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Wayfinder (85/40), Secret Reprieve (9/2), Southfield Harvest (9/2), Farinet (5/1), Caribean Boy (17/2), Secret Investor (14/1), Time To Get Up (14/1), Grumpy Charley (16/1), Elegant Escape (20/1), Nearly Perfect (20/1), Bennys King (40/1), Grand Mogul (66/1)

Most of these have questions to answer so the thriving WAYFINDER is taken to complete a C&D 4-timer. Secret Reprieve has raced only 3 times since winning the Welsh National off this mark almost 2 years ago, but he likely needed his comeback run so should fare better here, while the market should reveal expectations for the classy Secret Investor who is returning after a long absence.