14:10 Chepstow

Friday 27 December 2024

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:5015:25

Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 0.38s

Woodie Flash^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 129| BF| D

4/1

Made a winning return at Ffos Las (3m) and backed it up with a very good second of 11 at Newbury (3m, good to soft) 28 days ago. Big player again.

Form: 131F-12

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Major Fortune⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

8/1

Big improver when stepped up to 2½m+ last season, winning 5 on the spin. Picked up where he left off when scoring with plenty in hand at Newton Abbot (17f) in October but a further 9 lb rise found him out in a stronger race at Cheltenham since.

Form: 1112-16

Phantomofthepoints³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| C

10/3

Posted a fairly useful effort when a wide-margin winner of a 2m course novice (soft) in April. Up markedly in trip, made an excellent return to action when third of 13 in valuable 3m handicap at Haydock on reappearance. Much respected for his in-form stable.

Form: 26216-3

Tune In A Box⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 124| D

9/2

Most progressive switched to handicaps last season, making it 4 wins from 5 starts when taking big-field contest at Punchestown (19.5f) in April. Last month's fourth of 16 in a warm race at Cheltenham (21f) suggests the handicapper may not have got him yet. Stays 3m.

Form: 1211-04

Dans Le Vent³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| D

16/1

Made a promising return from 19 months off when a considerately-handled fourth of 7 over 2m here in October and not seen to best effect when sixth of 14 at Haydock (19f) since. The step back up in trip should suit this former 3m winner. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: FP3U/46

Bill Baxter³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 121

11/1

Winner of the Topham at Aintree in 2023. Lost his way over fences subsequently but better signs back hurdling when second of 7 at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) last month.

Form: 486UP-2

Madaket^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| C

7/2

Won a 19.5f course handicap last October last season and added to his tally at Wincanton (3m) in March. Resumed from 8 months off with an encouraging third (Woodie Flash second) of 11 at Newbury (3m, good to soft) 28 days ago. Another to consider in this warm race.

Form: 65216-3

Rickety Bridge^h1⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| BF| D

18/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and made a successful debut over hurdles in 9-runner maiden at Southwell (20.5f, heavy) in March, making most. Let down by a clumsy round of jumping when a well-held third at Ludlow 7 months later but unexposed now handicapping for top yard with a hood added.

Form: 1/2451-3

Forecasts

Phantomofthepoints (10/3), Madaket (7/2), Woodie Flash (4/1), Tune In A Box (9/2), Major Fortune (8/1), Bill Baxter (11/1), Dans Le Vent (16/1), Rickety Bridge (18/1)

A good handicap, featuring a few on the up. WOODIE FLASH gets the vote but Phantomofthepoints, Tune In A Box and Madaket, who was a place behind the selection at Newbury, have similarly progressive profiles. Bill Baxter's latest Uttoxeter second also shows he can be very competitive from his lower hurdle mark.