13:05 Chepstow

Tuesday 27 December 2022

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

Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:07 | Winning time: 4m 54.06s

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Selected odds by:

Allmankind²³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 154| C

33/1

Won 5 of his first 6 starts over fences, including the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last October. Disappointing since, though, and showed little on return (fit from the Flat) in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon earlier this month.

Form: 315P7-7

Francky Du Berlais^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 145| D

80/1

Found plenty for pressure when landing a second win in the valuable Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. However, he has failed to fire both starts since returning from a break and needs to bounce back in a major way.

Form: 531200

Phoenix Way^t²⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: K Brogan| T: H Fry| OR: 144

14/1

Doubled his tally over fences at Ascot in January but failed to complete on his next 2 starts. Has few miles on the clock for a horse of his age and will be a threat if resuming from an 8-month absence in peak form.

Form: 4/721FP-

Silver Hallmark⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: F O'Brien| OR: 141| C

9/1

Grade 2 novice chase winner in January 2021. Has never stood much racing and restricted to just 4 subsequent runs but should be sharper following a pipe-opener over hurdles and he's not ruled out.

Form: 21/4P3-5

Numitor³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: H Main| OR: 140| D

14/1

Enhanced good strike rate over fences with facile victory at Doncaster (19f, heavy) in March. Should come on for last month's return at Newbury but a career-best will certainly be needed here.

Form: 12412-3

Red Rookie²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140

9/2

Off the mark over fences in a 2m Hereford novice in January and was set to run very creditably when falling at the last in Arkle at Cheltenham on final start last season. Probably has more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 14/2U1F-

The Big Bite³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 139| C

22/1

Useful sort on his day and may have have found trip too far when pulled up in Rehearsal Chase on his return last month. Dropped 3 lb since and wouldn't be without a chance if on-song.

Form: 6/UP24-P

Broken Halo^t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

11/2

Low-mileage 7-y-o who signed off last season by landing a 3-runner novice chase at Fontwell (21.6f, good to soft) in March. Well held on return in the Grand Sefton at Aintree but 2 lb lower now and this isn't quite so competitive.

Form: P3141-7

Fugitif^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 133

6/1

Hurdles winner who gained second chase success at Newcastle (2m) in January. Creditable reappearance second of 8 over 2m at Cheltenham (good) last month, form which has been boosted since, but he's struggled both previous attempts at around this trip.

Form: P1448-2

Le Cameleon^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 131| CD

14/1

Successful twice in the second half of last season and jumped well when making a winning reappearance at Warwick (2½m, good) in October. Faller at Fontwell last time and probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 1414-1F

Enzo D'Airy²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 128| CD

10/3

Ex-French hurdler who scored twice around 2m over fences in 2020/21. Made every post a winning one back from a lengthy absence over C&D (good) this month and, with a 6 lb rise fair enough, another bold show is on the cards.

Form: 13136/1

Golden Whisky^p1³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| CD

12/1

Sole win last season came with a gutsy effort in this race 12 months ago. However, he has failed by a long way to reproduce that form in 3 subsequent starts.

Form: 2/6143-6

Forecasts

Enzo D'Airy (10/3), Red Rookie (9/2), Broken Halo (11/2), Fugitif (6/1), Silver Hallmark (9/1), Golden Whisky (12/1), Phoenix Way (14/1), Le Cameleon (14/1), Numitor (14/1), The Big Bite (22/1), Allmankind (33/1), Francky Du Berlais (80/1)

ENZO D'AIRY was spring-heeled when winning from the front over C&D on his first start following a 22-month absence, and a 6 lb rise may not be enough to prevent him from going in again. Red Rookie contested the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival on his final run of last season and is of strong interest with his sights lowered here. He is next on the list ahead of Broken Halo and Silver Hallmark.