16:35 Chepstow

Thursday 24 March 2022

All13:5514:3015:0115:3116:0516:3517:05

Ashcroft Services Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:39 | Winning time: 4m 52.9s

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Selected odds by:

Fama Et Gloria^t⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: M Hawker| OR: 107

40/1

Runner-up in Limerick claiming hurdle on final start for Joseph O'Brien last May. Only seen out twice for new stable since, and was below form on each occasion. Others make more appeal.

Form: 65-6245

Rock Of Star¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 106| CD

13/2

Much improved to make a winning handicap debut over C&D in January. Hasn't quite matched that subsequently, but has had excuses and return to this track could help.

Form: F-76164

Heltenham^t1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 104

13/2

Ex-French bumper winner who has showed fair form over hurdles so far. Lightly raced for Dan Skelton and has been allotted a reasonable mark, so looks a player with tongue tie refitted.

Form: 0203

Exmoor Express^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 102| C

4/1

Fair in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, creditable fourth on both handicap outings. Needs to improve if he's to defy this mark, though.

Form: 1-66444

Moveit Like Minnie²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 102

10/3

Dual bumper winner who has hit the frame on each hurdling outing so far, fourth in handicap at Ludlow 3 weeks ago. Longer trip could bring more out of him.

Form: 112224

C'Est Quelqu'un^b,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curran| OR: 102| D

22/1

Fair maiden chaser in France who ran best race for present yard when shedding maiden tag over hurdles at Fontwell (19.2f) in February. Has been pulled up since, however.

Form: 54321P

Stanley Pincombe¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 101

6/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who upped his game to get the better of a progressive rival at Warwick 11 days ago. Type to do better still, and longer trip shouldn't be an issue, so he makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 493431

Gastara³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R G Hawker| OR: 100

40/1

Proved competitive from slightly higher marks last spring when trained by Johnny Farrelly. Not much encouragement either start this year.

Form: 7355-0P

Kenyan Cowboy^b³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Max Kendrick| T: N B King| OR: 94| CD

20/1

Has been more hit than miss since scoring over C&D in November, again struggling a long way out when pulled up at Hereford last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 16399P

Iceburgh Bay^t⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 92WS

14/1

Irish point winner who arrives on the back of 3 quiet runs over hurdles. No surprise if he returns from a break/after wind op with a much-improved showing, so he's one to note.

Form: 41677

Beau Haze¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Jones| T: P C Dando| OR: 89

17/2

Modest hurdler who appears to have lost his form of late, so hard to make a strong case for despite a handy mark.

Form: 437555

Half The Freedom²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 86

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden who hasn't offered a great deal but could find some improvement for a longer trip/switch to handicaps. Worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 0078

Portentoso^b,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: S Holdsworth| OR: 83| D

80/1

Ex-French chase winner who has been disappointing since joining current yard. Hard to fancy.

Form: P7P070

Locallink^p,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 83| D

20/1

Showed the benefit of a wind operation/first-time tongue tie when scoring on handicap debut last spring but he hasn't reproduced that in 4 runs this term. Plenty to prove.

Form: 61-6965

Dark Heather^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: B Lund| OR: 72

66/1

Well held in bumper/over hurdles, including handicaps. Set for another struggle from out of the weights.

Form: 7PP585

Non-Runners

Gyllen⁴⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: Tim Vaughan J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Moveit Like Minnie (10/3), Exmoor Express (4/1), Stanley Pincombe (6/1), Heltenham (13/2), Rock Of Star (13/2), Beau Haze (17/2), Iceburgh Bay (14/1), Locallink (20/1), Gyllen (20/1), Kenyan Cowboy (20/1), C'Est Quelqu'un (22/1), Half The Freedom (33/1), Gastara (40/1), Fama Et Gloria (40/1), Dark Heather (66/1), Portentoso (80/1)

STANLEY PINCOMBE overhauled a thriving opponent in a good time at Warwick and is worth a chance to follow up 11 days on. Handicap debutants Heltenham and Iceburgh Bay deserve respect and a bigger effort from Moveit Like Minnie would come as no surprise.