15:58 Chepstow

Friday 13 October 2023

All13:3514:1014:4815:2315:5816:3317:08

Chepstow Construction Equipment EBF Mares' 'NH' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:59 | Winning time: 5m 19.5s

Alfie's Princess^t¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas

7/2

Won sole start in Irish points and shaped promisingly for all that she couldn't justify support starting out in a listed bumper at Huntingdon in December. Too keen in Grade 2 at Aintree 4 months later but still a good hurdle prospect.

Form: 1/28-

Bethka²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| BF

14/1

Showed fair form when placed twice from 3 starts in bumpers and is bred to come into her own now jumping.

Form: 203-

C'est Bleu²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

150/1

Second in a point bumper but made an unpromising start under Rules when well held in a maiden hurdle at Exeter in February.

Form: 20-

Elle Est Beau¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

20/1

From the family of top-class chaser (Grand National winner, stayed 35f) Many Clouds and shaped in kind when fifth in a Warwick bumper on debut in March. Longer trip an obvious plus on hurdle bow.

Form: 5-

Endless Supply¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

17/2

Third sole start between the flags and showed the benefit of her Rules debut when second in a 10-runner bumper at Southwell (15.8f) in April. Longer trip ought to suit now hurdling and she's 1 of 2 interesting runners for Fergal O'Brien.

Form: 362-

Florencethemachine²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

9/4

€7,000 3-y-o, Malinas mare. Dam unraced half-sister to modest hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 29f) Pete The Feat and ungenuine but fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 3m) Atlantic Roller. Successful on sole outing in Irish points in March. Yard won 3 of the last 6 renewals of this race.

Form: 1-

Kosasiempre¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

125/1

Showed some ability on her completed start in bumpers but needs a big step forward to play a leading role on hurdle debut.

Form: P5-

Lady Corrib¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

100/1

£16,000 5-y-o, Sepoy mare. Dam, 1¼m winner who stayed 1½m, half-sister to top-class staying hurdler Nichols Canyon. Runner-up both completed starts in Irish points (latest Apr 29). Well worth a look in the betting for a stable that has started the autumn reasonably well.

Form: F2P2-

Near Dark⁵⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Alexandra Dunn

125/1

€19,000 3-y-o, Westerner mare. Dam point winner. Took 4 attempts to get off the mark in Irish points and looks best watched on Rules debut unless the betting suggests otherwise.

Form: FP31/

Politacus¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien

2/1

Off the mark at the third attempt in bumpers in a 14-runner event at Ascot in February. Far from disgraced when fourth upped to Grade 2 company at Aintree on final outing and that's a good platform for hurdling career.

Form: 45214-

Shiroccosmagicbaby⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

125/1

Winning Irish pointer who offered plenty to work on when second in a Hereford maiden hurdle (19.7f) on Rules debut in February. However, was soundly beaten in a similar event at Bangor only 9 days ago.

Form: P34/12-7

Similar Story¹⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd

50/1

€22,000 3-y-o, £32,000 5-y-o, Mahler mare. Dam unraced sister to top-class hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 3¼m) Time For Rupert and useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 25f) Minella Fair. Easily off mark in Irish points at third attempt (May 7).

Form: P/2-1

Jersey Gem¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

12/1

Showed a bit on her second outing in bumpers (for Oliver Sherwood) last spring but plenty more needed now going hurdling up in trip for new handler.

Form: 63-

Forecasts

Politacus (2/1), Florencethemachine (9/4), Alfie's Princess (7/2), Endless Supply (17/2), Jersey Gem (12/1), Bethka (14/1), Elle Est Beau (20/1), Similar Story (50/1), Lady Corrib (100/1), Kosasiempre (125/1), Shiroccosmagicbaby (125/1), Near Dark (125/1), C'est Bleu (150/1)

POLITACTUS showed plenty in bumpers last season, culminating with an excellent fourth in a Grade 2 at Aintree's Grand National Meeting, so she's the choice to make a successful hurdling debut. Alfie's Princess is another good hurdle prospect judged on the promise of her bumper debut, while winning Irish pointer Florencethemachine also warrants respect having joined a top stable that has a good record in this race.