14:00 Chepstow

Thursday 18 July 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

County Marquees Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 35.31s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Bond Angel⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 67| BF| D

16/1

Twice placed from three starts at the track, in good form at the Fibresand at Southwell when last seen and has had a short break to recharge the batteries. Expect to see her late on the scene, and has chances.

Form: 447123

(9)

Sir Victor^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 72| C

11/4

Better class than these at best but mark is falling very quickly after a series of moderate efforts this spring and summer. Connections go for headgear now but it needs to have a major effect on him if he's to hold any chance.

Form: 654959

(2)

Swissal^p³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: David Dennis| OR: 64| BF

14/1

Handles Brighton's undulations well enough (winner there in May) so every chance of handling this track, not at his best last time but the bigger question is how he'll be suited by a mile. Others make more appeal.

Form: 7-56015

(3)

Amor Fati⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Nicola Currie| T: P D Evans| OR: 61| D

12/1

Better known for his all-weather exploits but did win a weak race on turf in Jersey this summer. Below par effort at Chelmsford last time needs forgiving and it could be the handicapper has caught up with him after a good spell.

Form: 712119

(7)

Dargel⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C G Cox| OR: 67WS

13/8

Handicap debut and first start after a wind operation, which would make him interesting enough anyway, but his fourth to Biometric at Salisbury has been well franked by the winner since and in this weak event, looks a big player.

Form: 6-54

(5)

Loose Chippings^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: I Furtado| OR: 52

7/2

Has developed something of a habit of finishing runner-up (and getting beaten by small margins in the process), versatile trip wise but again threw away a winning opportunity at Thirsk last time. One for placepots rather than win purposes.

Form: 0-22272

(8)

Tally's Son^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: G Harris| OR: 51| CD

14/1

One win in 20 starts but that did come over C&D, and he suffered the most horrendous luck in running when third at Windsor last time. Not the most consistent around so a repeat of that isn't guaranteed, but it would take him close if he could.

Form: 066-663

(4)

Masai Spirit²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Danny Brock| T: P J McBride| OR: 56

80/1

Well beaten in all four starts to date, sent off big prices each time and simply hasn't shown enough to be of interest here. Needs huge improvement from somewhere.

Form: 6-800

Non-Runners

(6)

Gabriela Laura⁶⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Cieren Fallon

Forecasts

Dargel (13/8), Sir Victor (11/4), Loose Chippings (7/2), Amor Fati (12/1), Swissal (14/1), Tally's Son (14/1), Bond Angel (16/1), Gabriela Laura (20/1), Masai Spirit (80/1)

The first of a few low-grade yet fiendishly difficult handicaps to try and work out. Loose Chippings looks the solid option but there's a few too many second-placings for comfort now, and something may well chin him again. Tally's Son would be a threat on a going day, and Gabriela Laura has a few things going for her as well, but DARGEL should have some improvement left in the locker and in a race like this, that counts for plenty. He's taken to come out on top.