15:25 Chepstow

Friday 22 November 2024

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:59

Lynne Fletcher Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 41.80s

Hidden History²⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| D

11/1

Sold for £45,000 after easily winning an Irish point and made a promising start to his hurdle career at the beginning of 2024. finishing third at Newbury before winning a 19.5f Lingfield maiden (heavy). Makes handicap debut after 9 months off. Interesting runner.

Form: 1/31-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Imperial Storm¹⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 115

100/1

Bumper/ hurdle winner for Fergal O'Brien but off for 500 days prior to pulling up in a point in May and absent for a further 6 months since. Best to look elsewhere unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.

Form: 12313/P

Sirekoff⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

12/1

Runner-up twice for Shark Hanlon in Ireland and made a successful start for David Pipe in maiden at Newton Abbot (18.5f, good) in August. Tackles his first handicap back from 3 months off.

Form: PP-4421

Brazos⁵⁸⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 110

150/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler at his peak but out of sorts for this yard in spring 2023. Absent since. Can only be watched.

Form: 92PP57/

Kepagge^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D Pipe| OR: 109| C| D

16/1

Good record at Ffos Las and bounced back to form when runner-up there at the end of May. Below par in 2 comeback outings this autumn, though. A change of headgear (first-time blinkers for visor) needs to spark a revival.

Form: 46-8295

King Of Tara³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

15/2

A fairly useful 2m novice hurdle winner last season. Shaped as if in need of the run when fifth of 10 in 17f Carlisle handicap on reappearance, weakening approaching the last. Should be sharper now.

Form: 31040-5

It Could Be You^p¹⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: C Ellam| OR: 108| D

125/1

Won a claiming hurdle in Ireland in the spring but pulled up in a Punchestown handicap when last seen in June. First outing for new trainer Clare Ellam. Probably best watched.

Form: P7P1-8P

Holly Hartingo²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: A Ralph| OR: 108| CD

15/2

Bounced back to her best to win a 15-runner C&D handicap (good to soft) last month. Should remain very competitive up 5 lb.

Form: 5PP-551

Blue Hop^t²⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 108| D

22/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner. Failed to take to fences in 3 starts last season and reverts to hurdles in a bid to get his career back on track.

Form: 517/P75-

Molto Bene^t²⁴⁹

14/1

Took another step forward when making a winning handicap debut at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) in February. Respectable third at Fontwell (19f) final start. Has had wind surgery ahead of reappearance.

Form: 5P313-

Sambezi^p,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: O Signy| OR: 106| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who took handicaps at Fontwell and Worcester in spring 2023 but has found life harder since, finishing well held back from a break at Hereford last month.

Form: 6254-P6

Captains Road²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 106

25/1

Winning pointer. Pulled up in a pair of heavy-ground maiden hurdles in the spring but showed ability when sixth of 13 in a C&D maiden on reappearance 24 days ago. Handicap debut.

Form: 601/PP-6

Maximum Effort²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: Noel Williams| OR: 105

28/1

Fair third in a C&D maiden in February but pulled up in an Exeter handicap the following month and well held in another C&D maiden on his reappearance 24 days ago.

Form: 0453P-7

Boyles Hill⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 104

16/1

Runner-up in his only bumper and took well to hurdling over the summer, winning a 20.5f Market Rasen maiden in August. Could have more to offer in handicaps.

Form: 212-321

Push To Pass⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 102

10/1

Modest form in 3 qualifying runs but unexposed now handicapping for a good stable. Market confidnece would look significant.

Form: 42-4

Looking For Larry⁵⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T Dennis| OR: 101

40/1

Point winner who posted career best in this sphere when taking 15-runner handicap at Exeter (17f, good to soft) in March 2023. Below that form when sixth at Taunton the following month and not seen since. A watching brief has to be the percentage call after such a long time off.

Form: 1P6516/

Loverdose^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 91| C

6/5

French Flat winner who has been much improved over hurdles since handicapping, winning at Exeter in March and following up on course reappearance (2m, good to soft) last month. Longer trip should be within range and can complete a hat-trick.

Form: 9081-1

Non-Runners

Home And Dry²³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: T Faulkner J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Loverdose (6/5), Holly Hartingo (15/2), King Of Tara (15/2), Push To Pass (10/1), Hidden History (11/1), Sirekoff (12/1), Molto Bene (14/1), Home And Dry (14/1), Kepagge (16/1), Boyles Hill (16/1), Blue Hop (22/1), Sambezi (25/1), Captains Road (25/1), Maximum Effort (28/1), Looking For Larry (40/1), Imperial Storm (100/1), It Could Be You (125/1), Brazos (150/1)

The way LOVERDOSE got on top towards the finish over 2m here last month suggests this trip could suit and he can defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick. Handicap newcomers Hidden History, Push To Pass and Boyles Hill head the dangers in a competitive race.