16:45 Chepstow

Sunday 20 March 2022

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:15

Cazoo Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 5m 9.36s

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Selected odds by:

Oxwich Bay^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-3| J: Mr Lewis Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 102

20/1

Dual winner over fences last term but yet to fire in 4 starts this season, pulled up at Fontwell 3 weeks ago. Career-low mark to work with today but tough to recommend on recent showings.

Form: 12-446P

Judex Lefou^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 97| BF| D

11/4

Backed at long odds when finally opening his account in 19.2f Exeter handicap chase after a break last week, easily coming clear. Didn't get run of race when second at Huntingdon next time. Player.

Form: 973312

Celma Des Bois¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 95

10/1

Lightly-raced in recent seasons, but proved that he retains all his ability when scoring over at Leicester on return in January. Failed to shine on both starts since but one to consider all the same.

Form: 2U2-1P4

Ballycorr^v1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 85

16/1

Failed to make much of an impact in bumpers/hurdles and similar story on first start over fences last time. Visor replaces the cheekpieces worn last time.

Form: 284F86

Hang Tough^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 81

11/2

Back to form when fourth of 17 at Ffos Las in November but not looked like getting near that level since, weakening when unseated rider 4 out at this venue 22 days ago. Back down in distance.

Form: U34P6U

Cobra Commander⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 76

12/1

Still without a win but hit the frame on 5 of his 6 starts last term. Little show in both starts this term, pulled up at Ffos Las back in January so it's hard to support with much confidence.

Form: 2233-7P

The Boat^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 76| D

10/3

Justified strong market support when gaining breakthrough success back over fences in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (19.2f) in December but unable to kick on from that on both starts since.

Form: 7-691P3

Fair To Dream^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 72

40/1

Poor hurdler/chaser who finished well held on return from 10-month absence at Hereford. No better in first-time cheekpieces since so makes minimal appeal here.

Form: UP20-05

Hartland Quay^p1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 71| BF

13/2

No show in bumper/novice hurdles but bit more like it in handicaps, third over 19.3f at Catterick on penultimate start. Cheekpieces on for chase debut and going left-handed should be in his favour.

Form: 00/F438

Gaelic Thunder¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: C Honour| OR: 69

10/1

Continues to show very little, always behind when fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, heavy) 17 days ago. Needs this switch to chasing to bring out some significant improvement.

Form: 0P9695

Forecasts

Judex Lefou (11/4), The Boat (10/3), Hang Tough (11/2), Hartland Quay (13/2), Gaelic Thunder (10/1), Celma Des Bois (10/1), Cobra Commander (12/1), Ballycorr (16/1), Oxwich Bay (20/1), Fair To Dream (40/1)

Not a race to dwell on with several of these arriving out of form. However JUDEX LEFOU opened his account at Exeter last month, and having confirmed that improvement when runner-up at Huntingdon 8 days later, Tim Vaughan's charge gets the verdict to double his career tally. The Boat, Celma des Bois and Hang Tough can fight out minor honours.