14:25 Chepstow

Friday 4 February 2022

All13:2013:5514:2515:0015:3016:0016:35

Cazoo Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 35.5s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Barnaviddaun²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 135

25/1

Progressive Irish hurdler who is built for chasing and was in process of running well when unseating 3 out on both starts over fences in recent months. Could play a part if he can eliminate errors.

Form: 421P-UU

Eva's Oskar³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 134| CD

5/1

Returned better than ever when scoring over C&D in October and has backed it up with seconds at Ascot and Cheltenham on next 2 starts. Probably worth forgiving his latest run in Welsh National.

Form: 44-122P

Mario De Pail³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 133

7/2

Useful hurdler who produced a promising first effort over fences when runner-up at Ffos Las (21f) in October. Fell here next time and also made a few mistakes when well-held second at Exeter latest.

Form: 515-2F2

Ask A Honey Bee^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133| CD

7/1

Signed off last term with hurdles win at Uttoxeter (23f) and better form switched to fences this term, runner-up twice before making the most of a simple task in a C&D novice 4 weeks ago.

Form: P01-221

Striking A Pose⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 131| BF| D

6/1

Dual hurdle winner last season and this former point scorer took well to fences with a 19f Exeter reappearance win in November. Not in quite the same form when fourth at Wincanton since.

Form: 11PU-14

Slipway³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 125| D

6/1

Fairly useful maiden hurdler. All the better for reappearance when making second chase start a winning one at Southwell (3m) last month. No fluke about that 33/1 success and should have more to offer.

Form: 432B-P1

Burrows Park³²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125WS

18/1

Ended last term badly out of sorts over hurdles. Reverts to chasing now after undergoing wind surgery and he needs to show more than on his two previous attempts in this sphere. Yard in form, however.

Form: 4P/65PP-

Gosheven^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123| D

28/1

Relished step up to 3m when opening hurdles account in maiden company at Doncaster last winter. Second on Exeter chase bow/reappearance but has failed to complete at the same venue twice since.

Form: B12-2PF

De Young Warrior⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: J Scott| OR: 122| D

3/1

Fairly useful maiden hurdler last term. Took a step forward when making a winning chase debut in a big field at Exeter (3m) in December, scoring in the style of one likely to go on to better things.

Form: 2/3353-1

Non-Runners

Sail Away²³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

De Young Warrior (3/1), Mario De Pail (7/2), Eva's Oskar (5/1), Sail Away (5/1), Striking A Pose (6/1), Slipway (6/1), Ask A Honey Bee (7/1), Burrows Park (18/1), Barnaviddaun (25/1), Gosheven (28/1)

An interesting race. There was a lot to like about DE YOUNG WARRIOR's chase debut success at Exeter so he's taken to make light of a 4 lb rise but there are plenty of dangers, headed by fellow last-time-out scorer Slipway. Eva's Oskar, who can surely be forgiven his run from out of the weights in the Welsh National, and Sail Away are also on the shortlist.