20:35 Chepstow

Friday 16 June 2017

All17:5518:2519:0019:3020:0520:3521:05

Graham Plumbers Merchant Challenge Handicap

Off time: 20:36 | Winning time: 1m 10.5s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Vincentti^p,h⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: William Cox⁽⁷⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 72| CD

14/1

C&D winner who seems to be suited by cut, so drying ground slightly against him, but steadily falling to a more competitive handicap mark (70). Not beaten all that far when seventh of twelve to Kinglami here last week.

Form: 56-5797

(6)

Showmethewayavrilo⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M S Saunders| OR: 66| D

11/2

Increasingly well treated from a mark of 66, but often runs his best races at Bath, and also a dual winner at Kempton. Lost his chance with a slow start when favourite at this track last month, but keeping on late to finish third to Artscape at Goodwood (6F good to soft) just seven days ago.

Form: 22-6503

(14)

Monarch Maid¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: L P Keniry| T: P W Hiatt| OR: 65| D

14/1

Successful from a 4lb higher mark at Salisbury in June 2016 (6F good to firm), and twice placed over this C&D immediately thereafter (from marks of 73 & 75). Out of form more latterly, but glimmers of a revival latest, and holds a very good chance if sharper rated just 65.

Form: 300-585

(7)

Indian Affair^b,t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: R Winston| T: J M Bradley| OR: 65| CD

11/2

Landed a C&D handicap (good to soft) by ¾L from Spirit Of Rosanna in mid May and not beaten all that far in two starts since from higher marks (sixth to Kinglami latest). More to do, but likely on the premises.

Form: 482166

(10)

Delfie Lane^p³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 71

9/4

Won or placed in his last six starts, and seemingly has transferred his progress on the AW to turf. Twice a runner up at Windsor (6F & 1m), is clearly a versatile sort and will have no problems with the forecast ground, but up another 2lb. Jockey steered him to victory at Chelmsford in March.

Form: 221322

(1)

Arthurthedelegator²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Stott| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 68

9/2

Lightly raced, with a 7F Newcastle success in December 2016 on his nine race CV. Raced over further than this in the main, but makes a long journey South after a fair second (to Right Action) at Carlisle last month, and worthy of respect despite being 1lb higher.

Form: 531-932

(4)

Kaaber^b³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: R Brotherton| OR: 53| D

9/1

Ran well from out of the handicap over C&D last month to finish third to Indian Affair, and there is every chance that he can build upon that effort which was his first outing since January.

Form: 195-493

(13)

Kingstreet Lady¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: R J Price| OR: 52| D

14/1

Looked a shade exposed prior to winning at Bath in early May (5½F firm), but remained in decent enough shape since (denied a clear run latest), and perhaps still too early to say whether or not a 5lb rise has stopped her from winning again, but on the whole, others look more convincing.

Form: 673148

(3)

Divine Call^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: Thomas Brown| T: J M Bradley| OR: 51| D

25/1

Veteran who is a nine time winner from 94 career starts, but largely out of sorts, albeit not beaten all that far when fifth to Indian Affair (Kaaber third, Bonjour Steve seventh) over C&D on his penultimate start.

Form: 760059

(5)

Diamond Vine^p⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: R Ffrench| T: R Harris| OR: 46| CD

33/1

Not won since May 2016 (6F Lingfield good), but has returned to turf in better shape with a couple of fair recent efforts. He backed up his Bath second to Zophilly with a nearest at the finish fourth of fourteen to Foxford over 5F here last week. Should be suited by the step up to 6F.

Form: 578724

(12)

Royal Normandy^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: J Quinn| T: G Harris| OR: 45| D

50/1

Badly lost his way for Roger Fell in mid to late 2016, and very slow to pick up the threads despite five starts for this trainer in 2017. Fallen sharply in the weights (dropped 15lb since December) but needs to show some minor signs of a revival before being of any interest.

Form: 409097

(8)

Clever Lady⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 45

28/1

Four race maiden who has shown little in terms of ability thus far, but is worth a try over this trip after finishing sixth the Foxford (Diamond Vine fourth) over 5F here last week. Difficult task on these terms.

Form: 6866

Non-Runners

(11)

Bonjour Steve¹⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 6

T: R J Price J: Mitch Godwin

(2)

Nuzha¹⁴⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Karen George J: Adam Beschizza

Forecasts

Delfie Lane (9/4), Arthurthedelegator (9/2), Bonjour Steve (5/1), Showmethewayavrilo (11/2), Indian Affair (11/2), Kaaber (9/1), Kingstreet Lady (14/1), Vincentti (14/1), Monarch Maid (14/1), Nuzha (16/1), Divine Call (25/1), Clever Lady (28/1), Diamond Vine (33/1), Royal Normandy (50/1)

A wide open contest with a string of interlinked form lines makes this a tricky puzzle to solve. Therefore, whilst respecting the claims of many of the runners, some value is sought with the mare MONARCH MAID. Her form from 2016 at this track identifies her as a very well handicapped horse from a much reduced mark of 65. Admittedly she's not performed to her best in 2017 thus far, but there was a glimmer of a revival at Nottingham in late May, and hitting form at around this time last year, her turn looks nigh enough.