14:10 Chepstow

Tuesday 30 January 2024

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Chepstow Summer Sessions Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 40.4s

Stellar Stream²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 105| D

14/1

Point/hurdles winner stepped forward from chase debut when finding only Haston Clermont too strong in a Lingfield handicap last month. However, whereas the re-opposing winner went on to score again next time, this 7-y-o subsequently ran no sort of a race at Exeter.

Form: 417-428

Leissieres Express²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 105| D

10/3

No great shakes over hurdles but has already shown himself to be more of a force in this sphere, placed at Wincanton and Exeter prior to opening his account at the latter course (24.2f, heavy) on New Year's Day. More needed up 5 lb here but he's unexposed as a chaser and may have more to give.

Form: 48P-231

Haston Clermont²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: Noel Williams| OR: 102| D

10/3

Runner-up sole completed start in points and shaped well on Rules debut in a bumper here. Failed to build on that in 3 hurdles starts but has proved a different proposition since switched to fences, making it 2-3 in this sphere at Wincanton (25f, heavy), and further progress is possible.

Form: 555-611

Mortens Leam⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed| T: M Hawker| OR: 102

100/1

Five-time winner over fences but seen out just twice (pulled up on both occasions) since latest success at Kempton back in April 2021. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: P861/P-P

Secret Plan⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: Evan Williams| OR: 101

11/2

Left hurdles debut form behind when runner-up in Taunton maiden last spring. Considerately handled when a distant second on first start over fences at Southwell (15.8f, soft) and, with better expected back up in trip with that run under his belt and Harry Cobden booked, he's one to consider.

Form: 492-452

Rouge De L'quest^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 100| D

5/1

Winning pointer who ran best race over hurdles when second of 4 in handicap here last March. However, he hasn't measured up to expectations in 2 starts switched to fences this season, including with cheekpieces added last time (retained here), and now has a bit to prove.

Form: 4342-63

Guguss Collonges^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Lily Pinchin| T: R A Teal| OR: 94| BF| D

11/1

Bagged his second win of the season in a 15-runner handicap chase at Lingfield (23.5f, good to soft) at the end of November. Put in a decent shift off 1 lb higher upped to 25.7f at Plumpton since and should have a part to play with this slight drop back in trip a plus.

Form: 231214

Bring The Action^t,v⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 89| D

12/1

Sole success came in Wetherby handicap chase (24.2f) early in 2022 but he did show the benefit of his reappearance run over hurdles when second over fences at Doncaster (26f). However, failed to build on that next time at Wincanton where he came home 17½ lengths adrift of Twenty Twenty.

Form: 5F5-924

Galop Du Bosc^b⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 88| CD

28/1

Lost his form towards end of last season and has continued on a downward spiral in 2 starts since returning to action in October, latterly beaten a long way with cheekpieces enlisted (discarded here) on debut for this yard over hurdles at Ffos Las. Blinkers refitted.

Form: 2FPP-P6

Twilight Glory^p,t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 80| BF| D

18/1

Off the mark in a handicap chase at Lingfield last February but it's been pretty much downhill all the way since, most recently pulled up back at that course in the 23.5f handicap won by Guguss Collonges.

Form: 213P-5P

School For Scandal²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: J Tickle| OR: 77

66/1

Belatedly opened his account when scoring from the front at Taunton on final start of last season. Good second at Fakenham on return but well held both starts since, adding to what has become a very patchy record.

Form: PP1-29P

Via Dante^b³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 76

17/2

Little impact in varied events over hurdles but surely would have won but for departing late (in control when falling 2 out) at Newton Abbot last spring. Failed to perform to the same level on return at Market Rasen (23.9f, good to soft) but he's worth another chance.

Form: 777FF-4

Vetoncall^p²⁷⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A E Jones| OR: 74| D

50/1

Made a winning return at Fakenham last season and signed that campaign off with a creditable third in a handicap over 26.2f in April. Can evidently go well fresh so 9-month absence no great concern but he's nevertheless opposable from 5 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 3/17253-

Non-Runners

Twenty Twenty¹⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: G & J Moore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Haston Clermont (10/3), Leissieres Express (10/3), Rouge De L'quest (5/1), Secret Plan (11/2), Via Dante (17/2), Twenty Twenty (10/1), Guguss Collonges (11/1), Bring The Action (12/1), Stellar Stream (14/1), Twilight Glory (18/1), Galop Du Bosc (28/1), Vetoncall (50/1), School For Scandal (66/1), Mortens Leam (100/1)

HASTON CLERMONT is clearly on an upward curve following victories at Lingfield and Wincanton, and a 6 lb rise for his latest success is unlikely to be enough to prevent him from completing the hat-trick. Leissieres Express boasts a similar profile and he is second choice ahead of Guguss Collonges, while Secret Plan is expected to step up on his chase debut form and can also make an impact.