20:45 Chepstow

Friday 25 July 2025

All17:1517:5018:2519:0019:3520:1020:45

Happy Birthday Harry Bethan Karen Anne-Hughes Handicap

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 2m 7.97s

(1)

Meet Me In Meraki²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: George Downing| T: P D Evans| OR: 60| CD

3/1

C&D winner. 10/1, shaped as though still in form when fourth of 9 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, firm) 28 days ago, doing too much too soon. Of interest dropped in grade.

Form: 385824

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(8)

Racing Demon⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P Cosgrave| T: E De Giles| OR: 58| C

4/1

Unreliable individual. Course winner. Creditable second of 5 in handicap at Ffos Las (10f, good, 4/1) 9 days ago, typically slowly away but just failing.

Form: 807482

(5)

Fighting Queen⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K T O'Neill| T: Joe Ponting| OR: 57

11/1

Winner at Bath in May. 11/1, seventh of 9 in handicap at that venue (10.2f, good to firm) 41 days ago, not seen to best effect having met trouble.

Form: 612577

(7)

Harlington¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Taylor Fisher⁽³⁾| T: J Tickle| OR: 54

4/1

Bounced back to form when good second of 5 in handicap at Ffos Las (10f, good) 16 days ago, albeit flattered by proximity to the well-in winner. Shortlist material up just 1 lb.

Form: 343682

(6)

Baikal^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 52| D

13/2

Winner at Lingfield in January and fit from the Flat, he landed a handicap hurdle at Stratford (18.7f, good, 12/1) 12 days ago. Should be a factor again.

Form: 128524

(3)

Marchetti¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽³⁾| T: J C Fox| OR: 48| C

13/2

Course winner. Two wins from 44 Flat runs. Thirteen runs since last win in 2024. Fifth of 9 in handicap (14/1) at Kempton (8f) 16 days ago. Tries this trip for the first time since 2022.

Form: 239-575

(2)

Tonal²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Joe Leavy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 47

13/2

Last of 9 in handicap (17/2) at Carlisle (7.8f, heavy) 20 days ago. Up in trip with cheekpieces removed.

Form: 287-749

(4)

Bondi Man^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Gina Mangan| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 45

28/1

20/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Nottingham (10.2f, good) 20 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 89/9-937

Forecasts

Meet Me In Meraki (3/1), Harlington (4/1), Racing Demon (4/1), Tonal (13/2), Marchetti (13/2), Baikal (13/2), Fighting Queen (11/1), Bondi Man (28/1)

HARLINGTON had little chance with a handicap blot at Ffos Las 16 days ago but he beat the rest easily enough and he looks the way to go. Meet Me In Meraki drops in grade, so is of interest, while Racing Demon isn't straightforward but has plenty of Chepstow form to call upon.