13:40 Chepstow

Tuesday 27 December 2022

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

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 3m 58.92s

Medyaf⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

50/1

Sold from the Gosdens for just 9,000 gns after failing to win in 4 Flat starts and has proved to be a bargain, winning first 2 starts over hurdles, including a listed race at Wetherby. Even better form when 10 lengths fourth to Scriptwriter in Cheltenham Grade 2 since. 5 lb penalty.

Form: 114

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Comfort Zone²³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J P O'Brien| D

10/11

Useful Flat performer who impressed when making a successful start over hurdles at Navan in November. Better form when third in Fairyhouse Grade 3 a week later. Capable of further progress. Leading claims.

Form: 13

Fils De Roi⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

15/2

Fairly useful form over hurdles, winning Auteuil claimer on final start in France and easily following up in Huntingdon juvenile on yard debut.

Form: 463F11

Havaila^p1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M F Harris

66/1

Fairly useful form on Flat. Sold from Sir Michael Stoute 62,000 gns in July and shaped well when second of 10 in Sandown juvenile 25 days ago. This is a pretty significant step up in class, though. Cheekpieces go on for the first time.

Form: 52

Jupiter Allen³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| D

20/1

French-bred who confirmed the promise of his Newton Abbot debut second when going one better at Kempton (2m, soft) 5 weeks later. Will need to advance his form considerably to go close at this higher level but he does have the potential for better.

Form: 21

Perseus Way³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| D

9/2

Fairly useful on Flat, battling well to win a Newbury handicap in September. Ran a cracker pitched into a Grade 2 on hurdle debut when chasing home Scriptwriter at Cheltenham then easily landed short odds at Leicester. Represents last year's winning connections. Much respected.

Form: 21

Spartan Army^t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| D

8/1

Bought out of Joseph O'Brien's yard for 170,000 gns after winning a Down Royal maiden on the Flat in June and looked a potentially very useful recruit to hurdling when sluicing up at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month. Can make his mark at a higher level.

Form: 1

The Churchill Lad^h³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 118| D

66/1

Fair Flat winner for this yard who has taken well to hurdling, winning juveniles at Cartmel in August and Catterick in November. Has plenty more on his plate now stepping up in class, though.

Form: 121

Dixon Cove^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| D

7/1

Placed all 3 starts in France (including in Grade 3 company) and 2-2 in Britain, the latter success coming in fillies' listed company at Aintree. Should have more to come. Respected.

Form: 32-311

Non-Runners

More Felons⁴⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 3

T: M F Harris J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Comfort Zone (10/11), More Felons (7/2), Perseus Way (9/2), Dixon Cove (7/1), Fils De Roi (15/2), Spartan Army (8/1), Jupiter Allen (20/1), Medyaf (50/1), The Churchill Lad (66/1), Havaila (66/1)

This race may have lost its Grade 1 status but it's arguably one of the stronger renewals of recent times. COMFORT ZONE gets the nod to make the trip from Ireland worthwhile but there are lots of potential dangers, headed by Perseus Way who is taken to turn around Cheltenham Grade 2 form with Scriptwriter on 5 lb better terms. Dixon Cove is 2-2 since joining Paul Nicholls and completes the shortlist.