14:50 Chepstow

Tuesday 27 December 2022

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:5015:2515:55

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (In Memory Of Kim Gingell) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 8m 18.29s

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Selected odds by:

The Big Dog³⁰^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 149

11/2

Big improver this autumn, winning Munster National at Limerick and the Troytown at Navan (both 3m). Big player for an Irish stable which has plundered some valuable handicap hurdles in Britain in recent seasons.

Form: 30P6-11

The Big Breakaway^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 148| C

12/1

Smart novice chaser in 2020/21. Largely disappointing in a light campaign last season but back on track when second of 10 on 25f Haydock reappearance last month, although he did race rather lazily.

Form: P/F23P-2

Fortescue^p1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 145

16/1

Useful chaser who relished the emphasis on stamina when landing a listed handicap at Ascot (3m, heavy) in February. All the sharper for a reappearance run over hurdles when fourth of 22 in Becher at Aintree 24 days ago, despite not really taking to the National fences. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 231U-44

Quick Wave²⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140

4/1

Hasn't stood much racing in recent years but she's been good when she has made it to the track, barely coming off bridle to win London National at Sandown (3½m) 24 days ago. Well treated under a 4 lb penalty. High on the shortlist.

Form: 5165/1-1

Truckers Lodge^b³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| C

12/1

Winless since landing the 2020 Midlands Grand National but he was third in this race 12 months ago. Likely to strip fitter for a reappearance run at Haydock last month and 7 lb claimer Freddie Gingell has a 3-10 record for the stable. Each-way claims.

Form: 7/5336-9

Fantastikas²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| BF

33/1

Largely progressive novice chaser last term and he showed up well for a long way in a 27f Cheltenham handicap on his reappearance. Well held over the National fences at Aintree since but may fare better back over regulation obstacles. Yard has won this before.

Form: 317P-60

The Galloping Bear^p1,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 140

11/2

Multiple point winner who has quickly developed into a smart chaser, although he was recently stripped of February's Haydock Grand National trial win after testing positive for banned substance. Sharper for reapperance run over hurdles last month. Cheekpieces on first time. Considered back chasing.

Form: 11/F1D-3

Time To Get Up^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

25/1

Won the 2021 Midlands National and good third in this year's renewal of that race in March. Pulled up on his 3m course reappearance 24 days ago but could prove a different proposition now stepping back up in trip.

Form: 1/0230-P

Ask Me Early^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 138| C

5/1

Very progressive novice chaser in 2020/21 and also won twice over hurdles last season. Made a promising return to action when third to Le Milos at Bangor (3m, heavy) last month. Very much unexposed granted this sort of stamina test.

Form: P1/11U-3

Musical Slave^p³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

25/1

Back to his best when scoring around 3m at Sandown and Haydock during the spring. Off 7 months, may well have needed his reappearance run back at Haydock 38 days ago. Stamina not assured here.

Form: 33112-5

Wouldubewell³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132| BF

28/1

Fairly useful hurdler who exceeded that form when scoring twice around 3m over fences last term. Faded when stepped up to 3½m for her Haydock reappearance but lack of fitness may have played a bigger part than lack of stamina. Remains unexposed.

Form: 2/1321-6

Cyclop^p,t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 130| C| D

25/1

Mulitple winner over hurdles/fences during 2020/21. Has shown he retains his ability since returning from a year off the track, finishing a creditable third of 13 in Borders National at Kelso last time. This tougher, though.

Form: 61/5-233

Wayfinder^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 130| BF| C

25/1

Low-mileage 8-y-o who enhanced his excellent record around here when completing a 3m hat-trick on his reappearance in October. Found to have bled when pulled up in the trial here at the start of the month. Could bounce back.

Form: 2P11-1P

Regina Dracones²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: T Gibney| OR: 128

22/1

Three wins in her novice chase campaign last season. Fell early in Troytown on her reappearance and might still have needed the run when fifth to Punitive in Porterstown at Fairyhouse (29f) 23 days ago. Not discounted under Cobden.

Form: 712P-F5

Movethechains³¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128

16/1

Highly progressive chaser who completed a 4-timer (all by 12 lengths or more) in handicaps over 3m at Lingfield last season. Pitched into a much deeper handicap on his return to action but it's likely there's more to come.

Form: 4/P1111-

The Two Amigos²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 127| D

16/1

Winless since 2019. Did bounce straight back from a rare poor run on reappearance when third in Haydock veterans' event last month but unlikely he'll be snapping that losing run in a race as competitive at this.

Form: F242-73

D'jango^b,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 108

150/1

Landed handicap hurdle/chase at Worcester this summer but an unreliable individual overall and has run poorly on his last 3 starts. Miles out of the handicap.

Form: 322657

Non-Runners

Pats Fancy²⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Miss R Curtis J: G Sheehan

Gats And Co⁵³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: D Brace J: C Brace

Forecasts

Quick Wave (4/1), Ask Me Early (5/1), The Big Dog (11/2), The Galloping Bear (11/2), Pats Fancy (8/1), The Big Breakaway (12/1), Truckers Lodge (12/1), The Two Amigos (16/1), Movethechains (16/1), Fortescue (16/1), Regina Dracones (22/1), Musical Slave (25/1), Cyclop (25/1), Time To Get Up (25/1), Wayfinder (25/1), Wouldubewell (28/1), Fantastikas (33/1), Gats And Co (66/1), D'jango (150/1)

THE BIG DOG has landed a pair of valuable 3m handicap chases in Ireland in recent months and he's weighted to go in again with the conditions of the race in his favour. A bad mistake did for him in this race 12 months ago but he's a good jumper in the main and has long left impression this sort of stamina test will suit so he's narrowly preferred to penalised-runner Quick Wave. Truckers Lodge, who was placed in this last year, and The Galloping Bear are next time on the list.