16:30 Chepstow

Sunday 9 February 2025

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:30

Join Fitzdares At www.fitzdares.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 6m 35.50s

I'm A Starman^b²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: M G Rimell| OR: 100

14/1

Not quite as reliable as he once was now well into the veteran stage of his career and failed to build on his comeback run when sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (25f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Nevertheless, he's been given a chance by the handicapper and blinkers are back on.

Form: 35-3536

Thirtyfour Thirty³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Taylor Fisher| T: J Tickle| OR: 99

20/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who was runner-up twice off higher marks during the spring but recent efforts have given no cause for positivity and he'll need a signification rejuvenation on the back of a stable switch.

Form: 259299

Pipers Cross^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 99| BF| CD

9/2

Dual winner around 3m in the spring for Robbie Llewellyn. Posted another creditable effort under this claimer when third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, heavy) 27 days ago and he merits consideration again.

Form: 314-533

Pride Of Paris²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 98

15/8

Improved to make a winning handicap hurdle debut at Fontwell last January. Failed to complete on both outings later in the spring (including on chase debut) but makes eye-catching switch to new yard after 9 months off.

Form: 7471U-P

Sporty Jim^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: B R Summers| OR: 94

16/1

Winless since 2022 but his third at Warwick in November was encouraging and he hasn't found things going his way either start, a bad mistake 4 out ending all chance back at that track last month. Place claims.

Form: 6P4359

To Be Sure^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93| D

28/1

Back to form from out of the blue when taking advantage of a reduced mark in a Ffos Las handicap chase (3m, soft) in April 2023. Lightly raced and little to shout about since.

Form: 0/255-66

Chauffeur Driven^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: D Pipe| OR: 91| D

15/2

Passed some tired rivals late on the make the podium at Exeter on New Year's Day and ran to just a similar level when seventh of 15 there (21.6f, heavy) 27 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: P-95037

River Voyage⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 88| D

7/2

Irish point winner but has yet to better modest form in hurdles/chases, looking hard work in first-time blinkers over fences at Ffos Las when last seen in November. Now reverts to hurdling with the headgear off.

Form: P35-476

Lightonthewing³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 84| D

33/1

Won over fences at Newton Abbot in May but is struggling badly for form this winter and is easy to pass over back hurdling.

Form: 3-1FP0P

Livy's Lad^t⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 83

12/1

Fourth of 6 sole start in point bumpers and is yet to offer much in novice/maiden hurdles. Has a decent pedigree to call upon though, and could do better now handicapping.

Form: 4586

William Philo^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: B Lund| OR: 83

20/1

Posted his best effort for current yard when resuming from 11-month absence with excellent second of 11 in handicap hurdle at Exeter on New Year's Day. Possibly found race coming too soon when down the field there 12 days later and he's not fully discounted.

Form: 1/P6P-28

Bellamy's Grey^t¹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 72

66/1

It's now over 3 years since this veteran's sole career success and he produced a moody display on return at Wincanton last week. Hard to fancy.

Form: 2444-P6

Non-Runners

Gata Ban⁴⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: R P McLernon

Military Tycoon¹⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: N P Mulholland J: C O'Farrell

Instant De Bonheur³⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: N J Hawke J: Lorcan Murtagh

Forecasts

Pride Of Paris (15/8), River Voyage (7/2), Pipers Cross (9/2), Chauffeur Driven (15/2), Gata Ban (10/1), Livy's Lad (12/1), I'm A Starman (14/1), Sporty Jim (16/1), Thirtyfour Thirty (20/1), William Philo (20/1), Military Tycoon (25/1), Instant De Bonheur (25/1), To Be Sure (28/1), Lightonthewing (33/1), Bellamy's Grey (66/1)

PRIDE OF PARIS ended his time with Victor Dartnall on a low-key note but remains unexposed in handicaps and a chance is taken he'll be back to his best having joined the Harry Derham yard. Pipers Cross arrives after a pair of sound efforts in defeat and should be involved again, whilst veteran I'm A Starman has slipped to a good mark and would have a chance if getting back to the level of his return.