13:30 Chepstow

Friday 3 February 2023

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:40

Download Vickers.Bet App EBF Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 0.52s

Always Busy⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| D

25/1

Promising individual who left his previous form well behind when taking 17-runner novice hurdle at Warwick (16f, soft) 79 days ago, readily. Should have more to offer.

Form: 2691

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Crebilly²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| BF| D

10/11

£100,000 buy for top connections and made a highly promising start over hurdles when easily landing 11-runner novice at Newcastle (16.2f, soft) in December, easing clear. Posted good second over C&D since and remains open to improvement.

Form: 33-12

Doyen Star⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| CD

15/2

Won sole start in Irish points and, having subsequently changed hands for £120,000, he accounted for 14 rivals on Rules debut in a C&D novice in November. That form has taken plenty of knocks since but there's no doubt that he's a promising type.

Form: 1-1

Anytrixwilldo

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

80/1

€33,000 3-y-o, Flemensfirth gelding. Brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser Ashtown Lad and useful hurdler/chaser Beg To Differ, stayed 29f. Dam unraced. Noteworthy newcomer.

Form:

Black Tonic⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr James Jeavons⁽⁷⁾| T: T H Weston

300/1

Out of a winning hurdler but didn't show a great deal in a brace of bumpers or on debut in this sphere in December.

Form: 940

Buckhorn Rocco³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| D

7/2

Upped his game when ½-length second of 14 to Hugos New Horse in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, heavy) on hurdles bow 33 days ago. Further improvement is on the cards and he merits consideration.

Form: 5/16-2

Hoe Joly Smoke¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BF

10/3

Successful sole outing between the flags and made promising start under Rules when second of 14 to Makin'yourmindup (winner again since) at this course (19.4f) in October. In good hands and it's likely we haven't seen the best of him yet.

Form: 1-2

Minella Choice⁶⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams

100/1

No real impact in Thurles bumper on sole Rules start 2 years ago and best watched on hurdling bow for new yard.

Form: 62/

Rapid River³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

250/1

No impact in a couple of bumpers and faces a stiff task on switch to hurdling.

Form: 85

Scherbobalob^h1⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph

150/1

Modest maiden on Flat who wasn't disgraced behind Doyen Star in novice hurdle (66/1) over C&D (good to soft) on NH debut 77 days ago. Hard to see that form being overturned, however. Hooded for first time.

Form: 7

Non-Runners

Hugos New Horse³³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Sailed Away⁵⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Alexandra Dunn J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Crebilly (10/11), Hoe Joly Smoke (10/3), Buckhorn Rocco (7/2), Hugos New Horse (7/2), Doyen Star (15/2), Always Busy (25/1), Sailed Away (50/1), Anytrixwilldo (80/1), Minella Choice (100/1), Scherbobalob (150/1), Rapid River (250/1), Black Tonic (300/1)

Plenty of potential improvers here, including HOLY JOE SMOKE, who was an encouraging second on debut at this course in October. That form has been franked since and he gets the nod. Hugos New Horse and Always Busy head the list of dangers.