Today’s Chepstow meeting will be run on perfect jumping ground and the AP McCoy roadshow moves to south Wales where I expect to see him land the opener aboard Jonjo O’Neill’s Sebastian Beach (1.50) who will certainly appreciate the drying ground.
The selection finished third at Ludlow last time in a very good race for the track and would have finished even closer had his jumping held up. He is no star but was a dual winner on the flat for Richard Hannon and his form suggests he should be up to winning in maiden company over hurdles.
Colin Tizzard saddles Quite By Chance (3.30) in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over the minimum trip and a repeat of his Kempton run on similar ground on Boxing Day when fourth to the progressive Stellar Notion will make him very hard to beat. This stiff track should suit and Noel Fehily takes the ride on the six-year-old who might be forced to lead given there is no confirmed front-runner in the field.
Keshi Pearl (4.05) didn’t get home over 3m on her reappearance at Kempton over Xmas but she ran well for a long way on that occasion and was backed as if connections felt she was still on a decent mark. This drop back in trip will suit and she is entitled to come on for that effort; she must give weight away all-round but this represents a drop in class. She has most to fear from the Venetia Williams-trained Bobble Boru who did beat Dan Skelton‘s 150-rated mare Blue Heron in a Bumper back in November 2013.
At Musselburgh Classinaglass (2.45) jumped and travelled like a good horse before tiring at Wetherby last month and this winner between the flags is a confident selection with today’s better ground a positive. The Mick Easterby yard is going through a quiet spell at present but this 8-y-old gets on well with leading amateur Harry Bannister who takes off a valuable 5lbs.
Honourable Gent was too free returning from a long lay-off over the minimum trip last month and looked to be coming to the end of his tether when coming down two out. He steps up in trip this afternoon and, if more amenable to restraint, must go close but the nod goes to Lucinda Russell’s Urban Kode (3.20) who hinted at a return to form when runner up here last time.
The selection has never won beyond the minimum trip and is 4lb higher than his last run, but Graham Watters takes off a valuable 5lbs and he could be the answer in a competitive event.
Streets Of New York (3.55) and El Beau can fight out the finish of the Handicap Hurdle over two miles with marginal preference for the Brian Ellison runner who finished runner up, off today’s mark, in a listed contest at the big meeting here at the beginning of the month.
Walden (4.25) was outstayed over 3m 3f here 10 days ago and this drop back in trip ought to suit the eight-year-old although John Ferguson saddles Dreamy George and a market move for the Hunter Chase debutant would be worth following.
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