13:10 Chepstow

Friday 19 November 2021

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:25

Spectra Group Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 5.9s

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Selected odds by:

Fabrique En France^t²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 119WS

11/2

Fairly useful novice hurdler last season, including a 2m win at Wincanton in January. Had a wind operation ahead of this reappearance/chase debut. Yard in flying form.

Form: 72/51P3-

Powerstown Park^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 118| D

5/1

Winning pointer who was expertly prepared to win 3 handicap hurdles in 8 days in March. Respectable chase debut fourth the following month. Unseated early on C&D return. Remains capable of better.

Form: 31114-U

Finistere^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 117

12/1

Fair maiden hurdler. Failed to build on his chase debut fourth when down the field over 2m at Wetherby 3 weeks ago but it's still early days with him over fences.

Form: 352-347

Sarasota Star²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 117| D

9/4

Back-to-back handicap hurdle winner last autumn. Left opening chase run well behind when successful at Worcester in September and ran well back hurdling at Cheltenham since. Should give good account.

Form: 2U-4614

Bannister^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 122| D

9/1

Fairly useful dual juvenile hurdle winner last season. Shaped better than the result when caught too far back on his Worcester chase debut/reappearance and rates a likely improver now.

Form: 25P18-6

Millbank Flyer^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 111

10/3

Has shown promise when placed on 2 of his 3 starts in novice hurdles. Bred to make a chaser (closely related to Chantry House). Very interesting runner.

Form: 8/2P-3

Morgenstern^p,t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 119

12/1

Fair 3-time winner hurdler in France. Didn't reach quite the same level in 3 chase starts over there but it's too early to be suggesting he won't prove as effective over fences for new stable.

Form: 2-1465P

Richie Valentine^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 90

28/1

Scored twice over fences at the end of the summer but his run of good form has come to a halt the last twice. 3 lb out of the handicap here.

Form: U1R1F5

Forecasts

Sarasota Star (9/4), Millbank Flyer (10/3), Powerstown Park (5/1), Fabrique En France (11/2), Bannister (9/1), Morgenstern (12/1), Finistere (12/1), Richie Valentine (28/1)

MILLBANK FLYER has a pedigree which suggests he'll make a better chaser so he might be worth chancing now switching to fences for his handicap debut. Fellow chase newcomer Fabrique En France has to be of interest given the excellent form of the Olly Murphy stable. Bannister can leave his chase debut run behind and completes the shortlist in an interesting novice handicap.