Racecards
14:45 Chepstow
Gent Transport And Warehousing 45th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 11y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places on the back straight)
- Surface: Turf
- £19,000 added
- Winner: £12,346
- 2nd: £3,625
- 3rd: £1,813
- 4th: £906
- Form 011F2-U
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Henry Oliver
- Jockey J McGrath
held up in rear, struggling before 3 out, kept on run-in, never near to challenge
- Form 1/34210-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
raced keenly in 5th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, 2nd after next, ridden to challenge before last, hung left in 3rd and held when mistake last
- Form 41110-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, every chance next, weakened before last
- Form 2/D861-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer S Drinkwater
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
chased leader, awkward 2nd, lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form 37131-F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey C Gethings
raced wide, led, went clear 4 out until before next, headed before 2 out, weakened between last 2
- Form F1P1-P3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
raced keenly, held up in 6th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
- Form 1/142-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
tracked leaders on inside, hit 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed approaching last, not pace of winner run-in
- Form 46/2333-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in last pair, smooth headway approaching 2 out chased leaders led approaching last, quickened clear run-in
- Form 3/42171-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Henry Oliver
- Jockey James Davies
tracked leaders and keen, hit 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 1F51/PF-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
- Form 311-321
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
NonRunner
- Form 1421/1-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
NonRunner
Verdict
This looks wide open but the market should tell us all we need to know about the returning Diamond Guy. Peter The Mayo Man also has a lengthy absence to overcome with Harry Shelton preferring Uttoxeter third Gortroe Joe. Quoi De Neuf remains unexposed and Speed Company is fit from the Flat but Teqany may have preferred a quicker surface. We’ll take CROOKS PEAK (NAP) to bounce back to form after a break as he looked one to follow when completing a hat-trick at Newbury in March. Highest Sun easily justified favouritism here in February and then tried his luck in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, where he didn’t appear to last home. Howling Milan was progressing nicely last winter and there should be more to come this season.
Formwatch
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, some progress at halfway, mistake 9th, 8th when mistake and badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out, at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Highest Sun (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, lost place 5th, soon pushed along, behind from 2 out, 17th of 25, 20 3/4l behind William Henry (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Crooks Peak 6-4fav (11-12) Held up in last pair, left in 4th place before 4 out, pushed along and outpaced after next, mistake 2 out, 4th of 6, 33l behind Beltor (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in May.
Howling Milan (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Made all, clear from 3 out, stayed on well, eased closing stages, won at Newbury 2m (4) gd in Jan beating Born To Please (10-5) by 26l, 16 ran.
River Bray (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Keen early, disputed lead to 4th, jumped right 5th, 2 lengths 2nd when fell 7th, at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gs in May.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Jumped right at times, made most until just after 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 24l behind The Vollan (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Quoi De Neuf (FR) 2-1 (11-9) Tracked winner throughout, went right 6th, one pace when went right again 2 out, kept on but no threat after, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Good Boy Bobby (12-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) sft in Apr.
Speed Company (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, lost place 3f out, effort 1f our, edged left, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Qawamees (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Generous Day (IRE) 6-4fav (10-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 6th, led 4 out, drew readily clear after next, in no danger after, eased near finish, very easily, won at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Bandsman (11-3) by 22l, 5 ran.
Peter The Mayo Man (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Held up in 4th place, tracked leading pair 8th, staying on same pace when fell last, at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Teqany (IRE) 7-2fav (10-12) Always handy, led last, edged left flat, driven out, won at Stratford 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Beach Break (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Diamond Guy (FR) 1-4fav (11-4) Made all, jumped left, became lit up by loose horse before 5th, hanging left from before 3 out, clear final 100 yards, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in May beating Djarkevi (10-12) by 5l, 8 ran.
Northofthewall (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in last pair, plugged on, never threatened, 5th of 10, 12 1/2l behind One For Rosie (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Feb.