15:12 Chepstow

Friday 9 October 2026

All13:2213:5714:3215:1215:4316:1716:5517:31

DragonBet 'Welsh Champion' Hurdle (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 3m 59.11s

Laafi^p⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Byrnes| T: W Durkan| OR: 144| D

14/1

Smart hurdler. First past the post in a competitive handicap at Aintree (disqualified due to rider breaking whip rules). Enhanced his record in big-field valuable handicaps with narrow defeat in Swinton before smooth-travelling eighth in the Galway Hurdle in July. Has to be respected on return.

Form: 055D-28

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Kateira²¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| D

50/1

Very useful mare on her day. Landed a match in a listed event at Wetherby (2m) on reappearance last November. Finished the season in form with a more-than-creditable sixth in the BetMGM Cup at Cheltenham. Harry Skelton now looks elsewhere and likely has bigger targets down the line.

Form: 143896-

Knickerbockerglory¹⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

25/1

Likeable front runner who has an excellent record on seasonal reappearance. Back to his best when narrowly denied on first crack at 2½m (good) at Bangor in March before a forgivable end-of-season run in France. Would ideally prefer more rain on return to 2m, though.

Form: 54/202-5

Le Beau Madrik¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

10/3

Sole defeat over hurdles when pulled up in Kelso Group 2 on hat-trick bid in February. Overcame some less-than-fluent jumping to come clear in impressive style at Haydock (21f) subsequently. Gets the nod from Harry Skelton on handicap bow and has every chance if picking up where he left off.

Form: 2/211P1-

Serious Challenge¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 136| D

22/1

Borderline smart on Flat in Ireland in 2024. Confirmed himself a top-end handicap hurdler last season, chasing home Captain Hugo in the Morebattle before a fine third in Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton. Can make an impact if settling (keen on reappearance previous 2 seasons).

Form: 4/4P123-

Captain Hugo¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| D

5/1

Improved a chunk when making a winning handicap debut in the Morebattle at Kelso (soft) in February. Still looked ahead of his mark when runner-up (jumped none too fluently) in Scottish Champion at Ayr (heavy). Dangerous if firing on all cylinders for his return (yard 3 winners from 6 this season).

Form: 121F12-

Gibbs Island^h¹⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 132| CD

11/1

Made a winning return/handicap hurdle debut in clear-cut style at this fixture 12 months ago. Back on track with a highly encouraging seventh in the County prior to doing all he could from another poor position in the Swinton. Races off the same mark as last year and may well make it 2-2 over C&D.

Form: 10577-9

Sony Bill^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 132| D

66/1

Developed into a useful hurdler for Willie Mullins last season, however, has regressed over fences for current yard this year. Back hurdling and hard to be confident that he'll snap a losing sequence stretching back to his 3-y-o days in France.

Form: 5-433P5

Sageborough^t⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 130| D

33/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o. Much improved when doubling his career/Wexford tally in a conditions event in May (17f). Subsequently ran too badly to be true in the Galway Hurdle. Has been given 10 weeks to get over that, however, will need to get back on the up to defy his inflated British mark.

Form: 17F6-1P

Filibustering^t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 129| BF| D

14/1

Strong-travelling type. On the up when landing his third successive hurdle success in emphatic fashion at Cartmel in late-June. Was given plenty to do when 7¾-length third at Perth subsequently, though every chance he's high enough in the weights now in any case.

Form: 851-113

Hamlet's Night^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: James Owen| OR: 128| D

18/1

Ran a blinder behind Rubaud in Grade 2 Elite at Wincanton last season. Likely had enough for the season when down the field in the Swinton in May. Notable that he was better than ever when making a winning return on the Flat last month and excellent yard likely to have targeted this. Hood back on.

Form: 12205-0

Listentoyourheart¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

66/1

Useful mare. Given a considerate reappearance in this corresponding event 12 months ago prior to winning a valuable 2½m handicap at Windsor on New Year's Day. Drop back in trip/jockey bookings suggest this may again be a springboard to later-season targets.

Form: 431739-

Queenie St Clair¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 126| D

33/1

Strong traveller. Improved again to notch a third success for current yard in a Go North Series Final handicap at Kelso in March. Handicapper has offered some respite following heavy end-of-season defeat and arrives fit from a spin on the Flat. Probably stable first string on jockey bookings, too.

Form: 131516-

Morning Mayhem^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 126| D

14/1

Another success story for up-and-coming yard. Found further improvement when landing Cartmel Cup in refitted headgear in August. Another personal best when narrowly denied at Market Rasen latest but could well be nearing his ceiling (now 38 lb higher than his breakthrough success in December).

Form: 144412

Pioneer Pete³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

3/1

Fairly useful 6-y-o. Landed the odds in a trio of maiden/novice hurdles either side of a cracking handicap debut run at Punchestown in May, when only narrowly denied in a fiercely competitive affair. Still relatively unexposed and has race fitness on his side (significant at this time of year).

Form: 4312-11

Doctor Blue^p1,t²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 123| DWS

17/2

Very promising second in Cheltenham Grade 2 on hurdling debut/return last year. Tame finishing effort on latest start in February (has also bled/refused to race). Tongue strap refitted following a breathing operation and feared if back on song for yard that has won the last 2 renewals of this race.

Form: 53/2165-

Tennessee Tango^t¹⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 119| DWS

16/1

Fairly useful bumper winner. Third to a couple of above-average types over C&D prior to landing the odds at Plumpton in February. Found wanting for stamina in 2½m events subsequently. Out of the weights back up in class but should at least benefit from return to 2m following a breathing operation.

Form: 6331P6-

Forecasts

Pioneer Pete (3/1), Le Beau Madrik (10/3), Captain Hugo (5/1), Doctor Blue (17/2), Gibbs Island (11/1), Morning Mayhem (14/1), Laafi (14/1), Filibustering (14/1), Tennessee Tango (16/1), Hamlet's Night (18/1), Serious Challenge (22/1), Knickerbockerglory (25/1), Sageborough (33/1), Queenie St Clair (33/1), Kateira (50/1), Listentoyourheart (66/1), Sony Bill (66/1)

GIBBS ISLAND made a winning reappearance in good style at this fixture 12 months ago, and he may well repeat the feat off the same mark here. Sam Thomas has won the previous 2 renewals of this race and Doctor Blue could have a big say if back on song. Le Beau Madrik is likely to have been primed by the all-powerful Skelton team, while Captain Hugo and Serious Challenge would be serious players if ready to roll.