15:10 Chepstow

Saturday 9 January 2021

All11:4512:1712:5013:2513:5814:3015:1015:50

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 8m 7.8s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Yala Enki³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 159

12/1

Placed in the last 2 runnings of this. Good second on reappearance at Cheltenham and ought to be in the mix if none the worse for an early fall in the Becher at Aintree.

Form: 0313-2F

Truckers Lodge^p⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| C

14/1

Runner-up in this last year before going one better in Midlands National in March. Went up 14 lb for that but didn't get the chance to show what he could do from new mark on reappearance (unseated).

Form: 24121-U

Ramses De Teillee^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 153| C

16/1

Enhanced good strike rate and better than ever in process when narrowly seeing off Yala Enki at Cheltenham in November. Probably worth forgiving a lesser run over National fences since.

Form: 110-517

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 152

20/1

Progressive stayer last term. Beaten favourite in Kelso hurdle on return and midfield over 21f at Aintree (National fences) since. This trip more suitable but hard to be sure what form he's in.

Form: 1122-49

Cloudy Glen³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 145| C

20/1

Improved when beating Christmas In April in Southern National on Fontwell reappearance but he struggles to string good efforts together and was only fifth at Sandown since.

Form: R2F6-15

The Hollow Ginge^v⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 144

50/1

Very useful staying chaser on his day who reacted positively to a first-time visor (retained) when fourth of 18 at Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury 6 weeks ago, staying on to be nearest finish.

Form: 371P-U4

Vieux Lion Rouge^p,t³⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: D Pipe| OR: 140| C

18/1

Added to excellent record over Aintree's National fences when notching second win in Becher. Course veterans' success last winter shows he's still very capable over regulation fences. 4 lb penalty.

Form: 1997-51

Springfield Fox³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: T R George| OR: 142| C

8/1

Unbeaten in points and ready winner of first 2 chases last winter. Unseated in National Hunt Chase final start. Promising second in 3m course hurdle on return. Remains very much unexposed over fences.

Form: 2211U-2

The Two Amigos³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 142| D

9/1

Likeable stayer who built on a good reappearance third when 12 lengths second to Secret Reprieve over 3m here 35 days ago. Goes off the same mark and should give another good account.

Form: 3542-32

Big River^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 141

28/1

Wins over fences have come in small fields, latterly at Kelso (3m) in January, but he does have some good efforts to his name in big-field handicaps. Ought to be sharper with reappearance behind him.

Form: 5/PP15-3

Dominateur⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 141| C

16/1

Won 2 3m novice handicap chases here last winter. Never a threat in Midlands National final start last term but that's not to say he can't make an impact in these races. Reappearance run creditable.

Form: F1137-3

Captain Drake^p,t1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 140

28/1

Second in Midlands National in March and won over hurdles on return. Below par back chasing since (well behind some of these here latterly) but yard in very good form at present. Tongue tie added.

Form: 1U2-1P5

Prime Venture^p⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139

16/1

Good fourth in this last year off 4 lb lower and finally got off the mark over fences in 3-runner Sedgefield novice handicap on reappearance. One of 2 solid contenders for his yard.

Form: 44F2P-1

Joe Farrell³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 137

80/1

Won 2018 Scottish National and third to Truckers Lodge in Midlands National in March. Not at this best in 3 outings this term but is well handicapped if staging a revival.

Form: 373-6P6

Christmas In April^p⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| BF| D

9/1

Thorough stayer who scored 3 times last season. As good as ever when 13 lengths second to Cloudy Glen in Southern National on return and should relish these conditions. Yard won this twice since 2016.

Form: 1131P-2

Bobo Mac^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T Symonds| OR: 135

16/1

Useful chaser who shaped well when third to Secret Reprieve (The Two Amigos second) in 3m course handicap on reappearance 5 weeks ago. Respected with his yard continuing in good form.

Form: 12722-3

Secret Reprieve³⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| C

5/2

Low-mileage sort who posted a smart effort when seeing off The Two Amigos by 12 lengths in 3m handicap here (soft) 5 weeks ago. Well treated under 4 lb penalty with more to come.

Form: 5/522-F1

Calipso Collonges^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

40/1

Just the one win to his name over the larger obstacles but he did shape as if retaining ability when remote fourth to Vieux Lion Rouge in Becher on return from 12 months off in December.

Form: 26/462-4

Forecasts

Secret Reprieve (5/2), Springfield Fox (8/1), The Two Amigos (9/1), Christmas In April (9/1), Yala Enki (12/1), Truckers Lodge (14/1), Prime Venture (16/1), Bobo Mac (16/1), Ramses De Teillee (16/1), Dominateur (16/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (18/1), Lord Du Mesnil (20/1), Cloudy Glen (20/1), Captain Drake (28/1), Big River (28/1), Calipso Collonges (40/1), The Hollow Ginge (50/1), Joe Farrell (80/1)

SECRET REPRIEVE had plenty in hand when seeing off a couple of these rivals over 3m here last month and looks well-in under just a 4 lb penalty (new mark 8 lb higher). Springfield Fox has a similarly unexposed profile to the selection and looks next best ahead of Yala Enki, who has been placed in the last 2 runnings, and Colin Tizzard's Christmas In April.