12:30 Chepstow

Tuesday 27 December 2022

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:5015:2515:55

Coral Bet Bundles Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:34 | Winning time: 4m 49.16s

Hurricane Le Dun²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N J Henderson

125/1

Didn't show much in a couple of bumpers last season but couldn't be in better hands and likely to leave that form well behind soon enough now switched to hurdles. Still, Russian Ruler is very much the stable No 1 here.

Form: 05-

Hymac⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| BF

4/1

Second to subsequent winners under Rules both starts in Irish points before landing a bumper at Newton Abbot in March. Found less than looked likely when third of 14 on return/hurdles bow at Ffos Las (2½m, good to soft) but he remains of interest.

Form: 221-3

Jail No Bail^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

50/1

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Paddy's Field and didn't shape badly on debut when fifth in a 13-runner bumper here last month. Should have a future over jumps but there will be easier opportunities than this.

Form: 5

Keaden Hill⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

50/1

Wide-margin winner of his last 2 starts between the flags and it'll be interesting to see how he shapes up in the betting.

Form: P/4P21-1

Nordy Lordy⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan

300/1

Winner of sole start between the flags but efforts under Rules so far have lacked spark, well held on recent hurdles bow at Taunton.

Form: 07

Rare Bear

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin

150/1

Out of a 2½m-23f chase winner. Market should offer up some clues as to what is expected on debut but, chances are, he will come on for the run.

Form:

Russian Ruler³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125

2/1

Warwick bumper winner who was fifth in a Kempton Grade 2 novice on second of his 2 hurdles starts last term. Did too much too soon when third on return (first run following a wind op) at Newbury (20.5f, good to soft) and sets a good standard here.

Form: 135-3

Saint Davy⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

7/2

Fetched £270,000 after winning sole point start and justified favouritism when landing a Carlisle bumper (17.2f, good to soft) on Rules debut in October. Likely there's better to come now upped in trip/switched to hurdles and he's an intriguing candidate.

Form: 1-1

Secret Plan⁵⁵

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

25/1

Half-brother to 3 winners, including winning hurdler/useful chaser Secret Reprieve and fair hurdler/chaser The Composeur. Encouraging debut fourth of 13 in a bumper here (2m, good to soft) and should have a future over jumps.

Form: 4

State Of Power³¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

2/1

Wide-margin winner of sole completed start in maiden points and of strong interest on Rules debut for the Paul Nicholls yard. One to monitor closely in the betting.

Form: F1-

Technology²⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King

28/1

Stepped up on debut effort when third of 12 in a Wincanton bumper (15.2f) on latest start in March. The pair that beat him that day look pretty decent and he's bound to have been well-schooled ahead of this hurdles debut.

Form: 43-

The Big Reveal⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris

125/1

This sole start in maiden points in Ireland. Probably best watched on Rules debut.

Form: 3

Whynotnowroy⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball

80/1

Clear signs of ability when third in a 9-runner Wincanton bumper (15.2f, good) last month. Plenty of stamina in his pedigree, so this stiffer test should help now switched to hurdles but he's probably more one for the longer term.

Form: 3

Blackhorse Lady⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt

250/1

Shade too keen when fourth in a Bangor bumper on debut in October. There was some promise in that effort but she took a sizeable step in the wrong direction at Warwick next time.

Form: 32-40

Tango Arumba⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

100/1

Successful sole outing in Irish points and justified favouritism (11/8) when making all on Rules debut in a Newton Abbot bumper in June. Likely to come on for his hurdles bow fifth at Uttoxeter (2½m, good to soft) and capable of better.

Form: 1-15

Forecasts

State Of Power (2/1), Russian Ruler (2/1), Saint Davy (7/2), Hymac (4/1), Secret Plan (25/1), Technology (28/1), Keaden Hill (50/1), Jail No Bail (50/1), Whynotnowroy (80/1), Tango Arumba (100/1), The Big Reveal (125/1), Hurricane Le Dun (125/1), Rare Bear (150/1), Blackhorse Lady (250/1), Nordy Lordy (300/1)

Having landed an Irish point last year, SAINT DAVY maintained his unbeaten record when seeing off 7 rivals (dual subsequent hurdles winner General Officer among them) in decisive fashion in a Carlisle bumper in October. He is clearly promising and is taken to make it 3-3 on this hurdles debut. Russian Ruler has experience in this sphere to draw upon and should have a significant role to play, while point-winner State of Power, Hymac and Technology are others to consider.