14:45 Chepstow

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:3013:0013:3514:0514:4515:2015:55

Coral Bet 5 Get 20 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:49 | Winning time: 6m 23.3s

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Selected odds by:

Shantou Bob^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| CD

7/1

Impressive when winning this race in 2016 but only been seen sparingly since. Came on for a reappearance run at Carlisle with a promising effort at Cheltenham last month but handicap mark looks a little on the high side.

Form: P/215-84

Eminent Poet¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135

3/1

Has won five of his nine starts with heavy in the going description (placed a further twice) and produced something close to a career best at Haydock last time out. Only up 3lb for that and likely to go well again.

Form: 813-951

Flemcara^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 130

7/2

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following wins at Worcester (2m4f, soft) and last time out over an extended 2m5f at Exeter (soft). Raised 10lb for that latest success and represents a stable going well of late.

Form: 525-511

Zeroeshadesofgrey^b1⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 129| D

12/1

Hasn't won in this sphere since 2015 and couldn't follow up a promising effort at Wetherby when tailed off at Uttoxeter last time. Has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 723P-56

Battle Of Ideas³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

6/1

Off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when winning on good-to-soft ground over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton earlier this month. Stamina to prove upped in trip for today's handicap debut.

Form: 42-731

Late Shipment^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 125

20/1

In excellent form last season and progressed well but comeback run was a little disappointing at Uttoxeter when a tailed off seventh of eight. May have just been a little rusty so not ruled out on ground he seemingly enjoys.

Form: 13112-7

Court Frontier^p⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 123| CD

10/1

Successful off a mark of 123 over fences in March but failed to trouble the judge in two subsequent starts that term and held sixth on seasonal debut at Newbury last time. Return to forecast heavy ground in his favour today.

Form: 111P5-6

Chef D'Oeuvre^b1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 123| BF| D

9/2

Dual winner over hurdles during the 2015/16 season but things haven't gone to plan over fences since and he wears blinkers for the first time on his first start over hurdles in well over 18 months.

Form: 41U3-0P

Driftwood Haze⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 122| D

20/1

Placed over 3m on good ground at Ffos Las in April but held in four subsequent starts most recently on heavy ground under today's rider at that course last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 52-0845

Non-Runners

Kris Spin⁴¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: Kerry Lee J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Eminent Poet (3/1), Flemcara (7/2), Chef D'Oeuvre (9/2), Battle Of Ideas (6/1), Kris Spin (6/1), Shantou Bob (7/1), Court Frontier (10/1), Zeroeshadesofgrey (12/1), Late Shipment (20/1), Driftwood Haze (20/1)

EMINENT POET relishes a stamina test in these conditions and the handicapper has given him a real chance of landing back-to-back races after only putting him up 3lb for his latest impressive success at Haydock. Flemcara is a horse clearly going the right way and may be capable of making his presnece felt despite a hike from the handicapper. Court Frontier will benefit from James Bowen's 5lb claim and can't be ruled out back on softer ground.