12:27 Chepstow

Saturday 7 December 2024

All11:5212:2713:0213:3714:1214:4715:22

Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 3f 98y | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Liam Harrison| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 126| CD

Likeable sort who ran out a ready winner at Wetherby (19.4f) in February and battled well to edge a tight finish from a 7 lb higher mark back at that venue later that month. Creditable fifth over C&D on return but handicapper may have caught up.

Form: P3511-5

Red Rookie²⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124

Capable from this sort of mark and signed off last season with a respectable effort at Uttoxeter. Not discounted back from 6 months off but needs things to drop right.

Form: 43743-4

Billytherealbigred¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: Lorcan Williams| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 125| D

Most progressive sent handicapping over hurdles last season, winning his first 3 starts, and in receipt of weight-for-age he was impressive when making a successful seasonal/chase debut at Bangor (20.3f, heavy) in October. Capable of following up if taking part (engaged 2.10 Exeter Friday).

Form: 111F-11

Don Alvaro^t⁷¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| D

Left his hurdle form well behind switched to fences, winning a pair of 2½m Wincanton handicaps. Below form when last seen and that was almost two years ago, but handicapper has dropped him and he should be ready.

Form: 104115/

Gyenyame¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: J Tizzard| OR: 116| D

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner who has the size to make a chaser and built on his debut over fences when off the mark easily at Exeter last time. That wasn't much of a race but he should have more to offer.

Form: 4350-61

Belargus^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 115

Eleven runs since his last win in 2021 but he recorded a respectable third of 6 in handicap chase at Stratford (20.9f, heavy) 49 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3/5P52-3

Knowwhentoholdem^t1³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115

Hurdles winner for Anthony Charlton at Newbury (20.5f) in March and ran to similar level on debut for this yard when creditable fourth of 11 in handicap at Wetherby 26 days later. Pulled up on chasing debut at Newton Abbot in October so needs to bounce back in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 2/3814-P

Margaret's Legacy^h1³²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 113

Ex-French chaser who got off the mark over fences at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Reluctant start and made mistakes when creditable second of 6 at Warwick (20f, heavy) 10 months ago. Has left Tim Vaughan since.

Form: 53/5412-

Zertakt²⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

Low-mileage sort who landed 3 of his 6 starts in France. Lightly raced for this yard and only third of 4 on chasing debut 8 months ago but returns with stable firing on all cylinders.

Form: 13518/3-

Byzantine Empire^t,p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace| T: J L Flint| OR: 111

Back to winning ways over hurdles at Worcester in July and shaped better than the result last two starts in that sphere. Pulled up on chase debut over C&D though, so hard to make a strong case for.

Form: 61433P

Forecasts

Billytherealbigred (6/4), Margaret's Legacy (9/2), Gyenyame (13/2), Don Alvaro (7/1), Red Rookie (10/1), Eaton Collina (12/1), Knowwhentoholdem (14/1), Belargus (16/1), Zertakt (16/1), Byzantine Empire (50/1)

DON ALVARO hasn't been seen for almost two years but he's lightly raced over fences and probably has more to offer based on the way he completed his wins that season, so he's worth taking a chance on. Gyenyame is open to improvement and Zertakt is another interesting one on return. Billytherealbigred is an obvious player if he takes up the engagement (declared at Exeter, Friday).