16:35 Chepstow

Saturday 10 October 2026

All13:3514:1014:4515:2216:0216:3517:10

DragonBet John Ayres Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 6m 16.65s

Reallyntruthfully¹⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Aamilah Aswat⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122

6/1

Dual hurdle winner who made a successful reappearance/chasing debut at Fontwell this time last year. Back on track when beaten 2¾ lengths on return to hurdles at Wincanton (21f) final start last season. Should be suited by step up to 3m.

Form: 19/16P4-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Jupiter Allen²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Chester Williams| OR: 121| D

20/1

Fairly useful chaser. Jumped soundly to beat some exposed rivals in a 6-runner handicap at Wincanton (25.1f, heavy) in January. Made mistakes when pulled up in Midlands National subsequently. This could be a pipe-opener back hurdling (5 lb lower mark) for first time since 2024.

Form: 0/4231P-

Magical King^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 121WS

6/1

Largely consistent over hurdles, including in better company than this. Finished third behind a next-time-out winner on latest start at Uttoxeter in March (23f, soft). Yard in good form, and he should be thereabouts if jumping better on first start following a breathing operation.

Form: 4/55P33-

Freshers Week¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 118| D

11/1

Irish point winner. Improved to get within 2¾ lengths of Daylatedollarshort (entered race 5) at Wetherby in March. Let down by his jumping when posting his first poor effort at Punchestown (19f) subsequently. Well worth another go at 3m on return (bred to suit).

Form: 12333P-

Got A Dream¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 117| C

7/1

Landed a gamble on return/handicap debut at this corresponding meeting last year (19.5f). Subsequently won twice at Warwick/Exeter, finding plenty for pressure to make it 3 wins from 4 in handicaps latterly (2¾m). Should stay this far and is clearly more than capable fresh.

Form: 66/1161-

Gold For Alec¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 115

11/1

Suited by test of speed when successful on first try over a staying trip at Hereford (25.5f) in April. Ended last season on a high when beaten 6½ lengths in a Class 2 handicap at Haydock. Should be all the better for his recent pipe-opener and makes plenty of appeal in this grade.

Form: PP31-76

Into The Park¹⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: M Comley| OR: 115

17/2

Fairly useful at his best for Hobbs & White yard (became temperamental). Didn't take much interest before running on for a distant fourth at Market Rasen on sole start for Billy Aprahamian in May. Feasibly treated if new handler can iron out his quirks.

Form: 4P347-4

Golden Maverick^v⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

33/1

Quirky 3-time winner for Jamie Snowden. Lazy streak still in evidence when runner-up on stable debut at Uttoxeter (2½m) in July. Certainly worth a go over 3m, though he remains one to treat with caution.

Form: 441F/5-2

Punxsutawney Phil^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 113| D

50/1

Front runner who landed handicaps at Musselburgh/Newcastle in 2024/5 season. Hasn't pulled up any trees in a couple of Flat starts following an 18-month absence. Tricky to assess back hurdling with usual cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 160142/

Balboa¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Pritchard| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113| C

17/2

Ended a long losing run in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (2½m, heavy) in April. Matched that form when 2½-length third in handicap at Stratford (2¾m) when last seen in June. This is more competitive but he's still relatively unexposed over this sort of trip.

Form: 4331-43

Tzarmix^p¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 112| BF| C| D

22/1

Strong-staying type. Made a positive start for present yard last season. Successful on reappearance at Ludlow (3m) prior to 3 consecutive runner-up finishes. Likely had enough for the year when below-par at Ludlow (typically made mistakes). Needs more to make another winning return.

Form: 312224-

Jager Time³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 109

16/1

Decisive winner of a small-field handicap at Newton Abbot (3¼m) in July. Returning from 7 weeks away and seemingly no excuses when 8¼-length third off this mark there last time.

Form: 1-43213

Jaytee^p³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109| D

50/1

Veteran who won twice over hurdles at Doncaster (3m) in 2023/24 season. Clearly hasn't been the easiest to train since, and he was the first beaten over a trip short of his optimum on reappearance at Worcester (2½m) last time.

Form: 21/503-6

Amatchmadeinheaven^h¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 108

13/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o. Successful in Exeter bumper/maiden hurdle prior to racing too freely under his regular amateur rider on handicap bow at Warwick (19f) in June. Longer trip a question mark, though return of a hood can only help his chances of staying.

Form: 11/014-4

Torrent^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 107| BF

15/2

Runner-up behind a now-useful one on reappearance at this fixture 12 months ago. Arrives fit from a summer campaign this time around, going close to snapping a 2-year losing run at Uttoxeter (23f) last time. Makes plenty of appeal with race fitness on his side.

Form: 6-45333

Muskerry Rock^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 107| D

25/1

Narrowly denied in 2 handicap hurdles before scoring readily over fences for Dan Skelton in July. Gone the wrong way in couple of starts since, latterly on first run for new connections. Something to prove back hurdling in another change of headgear.

Form: 1221P3

Faded Fantasy^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 98

22/1

Hit-and-miss performer. Tumbled down the weights since winning back-to-back staying handicaps last summer. Considerately handled over an inadequate trip at Uttoxeter (2½m) last time. Has now dipped below latest winning mark and worth a second look with usual tongue strap back on.

Form: 7-58548

Non-Runners

Queens Venture³⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: D Summersby J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Reallyntruthfully (6/1), Magical King (6/1), Amatchmadeinheaven (13/2), Got A Dream (7/1), Torrent (15/2), Balboa (17/2), Into The Park (17/2), Freshers Week (11/1), Gold For Alec (11/1), Jager Time (16/1), Jupiter Allen (20/1), Tzarmix (22/1), Faded Fantasy (22/1), Muskerry Rock (25/1), Golden Maverick (33/1), Queens Venture (33/1), Jaytee (50/1), Punxsutawney Phil (50/1)

A very competitive handicap that may go the way of GOLD FOR ALEC, who finished last season on a high and should be spot on for this following a pipe-opener. He's narrowly preferred to in-form Torrent, with the returning Magical King also respected for a yard among the winners. Got A Dream and Faded Fantasy complete the shortlist.