13:02 Chepstow

Saturday 9 December 2023

All11:5512:2713:0213:3714:1214:4715:2015:50

New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:03 | Winning time: 5m 16.4s

Ballybegg³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122

10/1

Pretty useful when at his best over hurdles, as he demonstrated with a decisive success off a 3 lb higher mark than this at Uttoxeter in February. However, as was the case with his first 2 starts in this sphere, he offered little on return in a C&D handicap chase. Yard also saddles Eaton Collina.

Form: 71P6-20

Alnadam^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| D

33/1

Took advantage of a reduced mark when landing a handicap hurdle on final start for Dan Skelton at Haydock in March. No real impact in 5 subsequent outings in France, though, and it's hard to know what to expect of him back over the larger obstacles.

Form: 15-457P

Timeforatune¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121| C| D

66/1

Smart bumper performer who scored twice over hurdles for Paul Nicholls last season. However, having changed hands for £12,000 in September, he hasn't shown much in 3 starts switched to fences for new connections.

Form: 241-377

High Game Royal³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 119| CD

6/4

Built on maiden/novice promise when making a winning handicap debut over hurdles here during the spring. Bred for chasing and duly jumped with aplomb when runner-up on his first start in this sphere at Warwick (2½m, heavy) last month. Big player.

Form: 52331-2

Old Painless^t²⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119

20/1

Winning pointer who looked a different proposition when scoring easily on chase debut in novice handicap at Plumpton last December. Failed to progress in second half of that season, but he's not one to write off just yet and well worth a second look starting out for his new yard here.

Form: 3125U4-

Ballycamus³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 114| BF

4/1

Doubled his career tally when scoring over hurdles at Newbury (24.2f, soft) in March, seeming to relish the emphasis on stamina. Shaped encouragingly when placed both starts this term and will make a chaser (Irish point winner). One to consider.

Form: 212-P32

Rock Of Star²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 110| CD

17/2

Brought the curtain down on last season's campaign with back-to-back wins in 23.6f handicaps here on soft/good to soft. Reappearance third at Newton Abbot wasn't a bad effort, but not so good at Ffos Las next time and he's probably a shade too high in the weights.

Form: U411-36

Calipso Collonges^p,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 108| D

150/1

Now a long way below the mark of his latest success over fences, but that was over 2 years ago and no real posititives to glean from his efforts for new connections in France the last twice.

Form: 5PP-49P

Flagrant Delitiep¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 105| BF

15/2

Has dipped to a dangerous mark but, judged on last season's evidence (and on what he's shown in 3 starts since returning to action in October), he's not the force of old.

Form: 365-434

Ballybeen^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 104

4/1

Placed all 5 starts in this sphere, including when third of 11 back from a break at Stratford (22.6f, heavy) last month. However, his finishing effort was rather underwhelming on that occasion (not for the first time) and he may again find one or two too good.

Form: 3222-33

Non-Runners

Cruz Control¹⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Eaton Collina³⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Forecasts

High Game Royal (6/4), Cruz Control (5/2), Ballycamus (4/1), Ballybeen (4/1), Flagrant Delitiep (15/2), Rock Of Star (17/2), Ballybegg (10/1), Eaton Collina (10/1), Old Painless (20/1), Alnadam (33/1), Timeforatune (66/1), Calipso Collonges (150/1)

HIGH GAME ROYAL made a highly encouraging start over fences when chasing home a progressive type at Warwick, in turn pulling well clear of the third who was successful next time. He is open to improvement in this sphere and is taken to go one better. Ballycamus is every inch a chaser on looks and will be a threat if he takes to this game at the first attempt, while Eaton Collina may well leave his reappearance run behind and, if that proves to be the case, he could also have a say.