By Charlie McCann
A cracking midweek jumps card at Chepstow and a confident selection at Sedgefield this afternoon to boot. We begin in South Wales and Creepy won the opener 12-months ago for Martin Keighley and the trainer is taken to follow up in the corresponding race with Primo Capitano (2.00). The selection won a maiden point-to-point in Ireland last May before changing hands for £52,000 later in the month. He is likely to make a better chaser than hurdler in time and his 493-day absence is a concern but this looks an ideal starting point and he gets the nod.
Grand National winning trainer Dr Richard Newland has his string in fine form and Royale Knight (2.30) is 9lbs lower over hurdles than he is over fences and can take advantage of what looks a decent mark. The selection has a decent record fresh and he can reward each way support returning from a five-month lay-off; all ground comes alike.
I have been waiting for Creepy (3.40) to jump a fence for the best part of two years since he won his bumper back in October 2012 but this 3 mile trip on his chase debut is a big concern especially as he can be very keen. That said he has a good record fresh and he will surely be rated higher than 130 by the end of the season. It is interesting that Keighley ran Annacotty in this corresponding race twelve months ago (beaten favourite) and that horse, beaten off 128 in this race 12 months ago, is now rated 146 having subsequently won the Grade 1 Feltham Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Sophie Leech won the 2m Handicap Chase in 2013 and she can follow up with Le Grand Chene (5.20) a C&D winner from a 4lb lower mark last year who looked to be coming to the boil when fourth at Stratford last time.
Time may tell that Jewellery (5.10) faced an impossible task against David Pipe’s Famousandfearless at Plumpton on her chase debut last time and a reproduction of that effort should be good enough at Sedgefield. The mare had been in excellent form over hurdles previously winning two of her three previous starts and Denis O’Regan travels north for just the one mount. Brother Scott and Mac’s Grey are obvious dangers and the drop back to the minimum trip is a concern but Jewellery is in the form of her life and can sparkle for the Devon based yard of Victor Dartnall.
David Pipe also takes two up from his Devon yard and I like the look of the mare Bengali (5.40) in the mares’ bumper on debut. The selection is a half-sister to a number of winners and the stable are in cracking form. Tom Scudamore takes the mount and it should be noted that Scu rode likely favourite Ardnahoe for Donald McCain at Cheltenham (4th beaten 8L) back in April. The latter must give 7lbs to the Pipe newcomer and that might be the decisive factor.
Everylasting (3.25) turned the 2m 6f chase at the last meeting into a procession and can defy an 11lb rise in this stronger race for Rose Dobbin who also has her string in such good form. The 7-y-o is clearly in good heart at present, gets on very well for leading conditional Craig Nichol and can follow up.
At Wolverhampton this evening Anton Chigurh (7.20) makes a quick reappearance having run down the field in the consolation Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last Friday. The 3-y-o Law Keeper is a danger making her all-weather debut especially if getting a soft lead from her excellent draw but Anton Chigurh is well-treated on his best form and suggested at Kempton on his penultimate start that his turn was near.
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