18:30 Chepstow

Thursday 7 August 2025

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Racing League 17 Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 21.24s

(3)

Vafortino²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: K P De Foy| OR: 106| D

16/1

2022 Victoria Cup winner who was out of his depth when 17¼ lengths eighteenth of 20 to Kind of Blue in Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot (6f, soft, 80/1) 9 months ago. Makes return back in much calmer waters but will be need to ready to roll if he's to have a say.

Form: 266320-

(8)

Tarkhan¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 96| D

12/1

Completed a hat-trick in Munich listed event (6.5f) last October. Solid third in Group 2 at Milan on final start for Roland Dzubasz but still looks a bit too high in the weights judged on his first 4 handicap starts for this yard.

Form: 13-9000

(6)

El Bodon¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 94

7/1

8/1, confirmed the promise of his return stepped back up to 7f when length second of 12 to Mister Bluebird in handicap at Yarmouth (good to soft) a fortnight ago. Expected to be bang there once again.

Form: 0700-22

(7)

Brian⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Shepherd| T: J S Moore| OR: 100

13/2

Useful for Sylvester Kirk at 2, including third in Chesham Stakes last summer. Made a positive start for new yard when fourth at Ascot in April but disappointed in Jersey Stakes since. Makes his handicap debut in an ultra-competitive contest.

Form: 4135-40

(10)

Great Acclaim^b⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 89| C| D

11/4

Had a productive 2024 when a 4-time winner, and back on song of late, proving better than ever with first-time blinkers applied as he got off the mark for the season in 20-runner handicap at Goodwood (7f, good) 8 days ago. Big player carrying a penalty provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 084271

(1)

Sondad^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 93

4/1

Upwardly-mobile sprinter who ran well in pursuit of the hat-trick when second of 13 in handicap (4/1) at Ascot (6f, firm) 27 days ago. Nudged up another 2 lb for that and should continue to give a good account.

Form: 0-82112

(2)

King's Lynn^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 88| D

8/1

Ended long losing run at Haydock in July. 6/1, wasn't disgraced on the balance of his recent efforts when 3¾ lengths sixth of 12 to Mister Bluebird in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago. Place claim probably his best hope.

Form: 686316

(9)

Mister Bluebird¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: Grace McEntee| T: H Main| OR: 84| D

12/1

11/2, proved at least as good as ever when winning 12-runner handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago by length from El Bodon. On top of his game the minute and can give another good account.

Form: 9-35121

(4)

Musical Touch¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84

7/1

Latest win at Thirsk in April. 12/1, did well from a less helpful draw than the others in the frame when fourth of 11 in handicap at Yarmouth (6f, good to soft) a fortnight ago. Shortlist material from an unchanged mark.

Form: 152634

Non-Runners

(5)

Streets Of Gold²⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: Miss J A Camacho J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Great Acclaim (11/4), Sondad (4/1), Brian (13/2), Musical Touch (7/1), El Bodon (7/1), King's Lynn (8/1), Streets Of Gold (8/1), Mister Bluebird (12/1), Tarkhan (12/1), Vafortino (16/1)

MUSICAL TOUCH hasn't put a foot wrong since making a winning reappearance at Thirsk in April, so Richard Fahey's 4-y-o gets the nod to notch career victory number 3 at the expense of Great Acclaim, who landed a big-field handicap at Glorious Goodwood last week and rates as a huge danger carrying a penalty. Mister Bluebird edged out El Bodon at Yarmouth a fortnight ago and they can fight out minor honours here.