13:12 Chepstow

Tuesday 28 January 2025

All13:1213:4514:1514:4515:1715:5216:24

Fitzdares Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:14 | Winning time: 5m 16.60s

Tintagel Queen²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lewis Stones| T: O Murphy| OR: 98

40/1

Went close in a bumper here in March 2023 and promising start over hurdles when third at Lingfield in November of that year. Not disgraced after almost a year off at Stratford in October but pulled up both subsequent starts, including on handicap debut at Exeter last time.

Form: 52/3-8PP

Walkinthecotswolds^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 97WS

6/1

Showed ability in maiden/novice company prior to finishing second on Southwell handicap debut last March. Good reappearance fourth at Ffos Las was followed by a poor effort at the same course but there was a valid excuse (said to have had a breathing problem) and she has since undergone a wind op.

Form: 4226-4P

Wild Nephin³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Dylan Johnston| T: R Potter| OR: 96

11/10

Point winner who offered something to work on in pair of Hereford novice hurdles in December before dropping back to 2m counted against him here during the Christmas period. However, he was pulled up before the third flight on handicap bow at Uttoxeter on Sunday when something was presumably amiss.

Form: 21364P

Taritino¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Taylor Fisher⁽³⁾| T: J Tickle| OR: 92| C

12/1

Fair on Flat for Amy Murphy and, though yet to trouble the judge following half-a-dozen starts in this sphere, he has shown ability over hurdles, not least when sixth of 13 at Taunton in December. Failed to build on that at the same course next time but it's far too soon to write this 5-y-o off.

Form: 4447-68

Arctic Angel⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 86

16/1

Offered something to work on when third in Newton Abbot bumper last year but subsequent efforts over hurdles have not been at all encouraging. Big step forward needed now handicapping.

Form: 3P840

Quite The Getaway²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Finn Lambert| T: R Bevis| OR: 84

18/1

Made the frame twice from 4 starts in bumpers but offered little in a trio of outings in this sphere for Nigel Twiston-Davies last term. Didn't fare much better on first run since rejoining former yard at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 8/3696-7

Mambo Beat²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Fenelon| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 77

28/1

Flat winner in 2023 and showed an aptitude for this game last spring, including when third on handicap debut off an 11 lb higher mark at Hereford. However, he hasn't shown much in a couple of outings since returning to action in December.

Form: 443-568

Night Jet³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: T Symonds| OR: 76

9/4

Fifteen-race maiden overall (0-13 in this sphere) but has performed well both completed starts this season, finishing third of 9 at Leicester last month before chasing home My Friend Sean (winner again since) at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy) 15 days later. Needs considering back up in trip here.

Form: 755-F32

Grandmaster Flash^b¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Saunders⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 70

100/1

Three-time AW winner on the Flat but no real impact over hurdles so far. 4 lb 'wrong' at the weights and he's readily passed over.

Form: 4-UPP00

Non-Runners

Home And Dry⁹⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: T Faulkner J: Shane Quinlan

Happy Returns⁵⁶⁰

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: Mr Eddie Edge

Forecasts

Wild Nephin (11/10), Night Jet (9/4), Home And Dry (5/1), Happy Returns (11/2), Walkinthecotswolds (6/1), Taritino (12/1), Arctic Angel (16/1), Quite The Getaway (18/1), Mambo Beat (28/1), Tintagel Queen (40/1), Grandmaster Flash (100/1)

It's fair to say that NIGHT JET has already had plenty of chances but he is nevertheless appealing in a race of this nature. Indeed, he at least arrives here in good form whereas many of his rivals have questions to answer for one reason or another. Home And Dry could be a threat on his handicap debut in this sphere and is second choice ahead of Walkinthecotswolds, for whom there was a valid excuse at Ffos Las last time, and Taritino.