Racecards
14:10 Chepstow
Unibet Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 100y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £35,000 added
- Winner: £19,932
- 2nd: £7,480
- 3rd: £3,745
- 4th: £1,866
- Form 23301-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace, no impression
- Form 35F52-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey D A Jacob
led, not fluent and headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no extra approaching last
- Form 4/5321-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey R M Power
tracked leader, led 2 out, hard pressed last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra towards finish
- Form 244112-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
raced keenly, held up mid-division on inside, dropped towards rear, 6th, no danger after, weakened 2 out, tailed off
- Form 743521-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 127
held up, always behind, weakened 2 out, tailed off
- Form 22-1111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey G Sheehan
tracked leaders, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, went 3rd before last, kept on, not reach front pair
Thyme Hill
212- Form 123-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon chased front pair, stayed on to challenge last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well
- Form 1/410-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leaders, shaken up and hung left approaching 3 out, soon lost place and beaten, weakened from next, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 1-32231
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
mid-division, on outside, took closer order 4th, driven and lost place when hit 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 132D36-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
Withdrawn
- Form 124211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey S Bowen
NonRunner
Verdict
A long-established Grade 2 kicks off a high-quality Friday card as the NH season steps up a notch. Paul Nicholls has won this four times in the last 10 years and Trevelyn's Corn is his entry this time. He’s been lightly raced but was behind Champagne Well in the Sefton Hurdle at Aintree in April. The latter has been unlucky not to win so far and should put that right in the months ahead. Echiquier had nothing to beat at Hexham but is held in high regard. Fiddlerontheroof is making his debut over timber but was a very progressive bumper horse in Ireland and is another with a tall reputation. THYME HILL was third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and that race is always a good source for high-class novice hurdlers. The Hobbs team has been quickly among the winners this autumn and the five-year-old is sure to know his job. Harambe didn’t do a lot wrong last season and it’s a bonus that he’s still qualified to run in this so he shouldn’t be ignored.
Formwatch
Diomede Des Mottes (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Held up last, gained a place at 8th, smooth headway 3 out, 2nd going well before next, upsides last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on, won at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Oct beating Len Brennan (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Echiquier (FR) 1-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 7th, clear from 2 out, readily, won at Hexham 2m 7f (4) sft in Oct beating Elle Est Grande (10-5) by 13l, 3 ran.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Always prominent, led after 4f, joined 6f out, disputed lead and ridden 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Navan 2m sft in Mar beating The Big Getaway (12-0) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Harambe 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway chasing leaders before 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, driven and kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 2 3/4l behind Getaway Trump (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Paint The Dream 4-1fav (11-12) Held up behind, headway before 3 out, led after 2 out, kept on well, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Amberose (10-11) by 3l, 13 ran.
Some Day Soon (IRE) 4-6fav (11-13) Prominent, led before 3rd, clear flat, eased close home, won at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Jul beating Ruthless Article (11-3) by 2l, 9 ran.
Thyme Hill 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Trevelyn's Corn (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, made most until mistake 8th, still every chance 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Champ (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Win My Wings (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway on outside 6th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f (4) sft in Sep beating Larkbarrow Lad (11-5) by 6l, 9 ran.
Champagne Well (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Soon tracking leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place before 5th, switched right and closed before 3 out, pressing leaders 2 out, 5th and beaten last, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 19 3/4l behind Champ (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Ruthless Article (IRE) 11-8 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, not fluent 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Sep beating Shaman Du Berlais (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.