14:00 Chepstow

Friday 3 February 2023

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:40

Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Everyday Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 58.43s

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Selected odds by:

Thomas Macdonagh^b,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 120

18/1

Sole success over fences came in 3-runner event at Catterick in early 2021. Not disgraced back in this sphere at Haydock latest but that is still some way below his best form.

Form:

Duc De Beauchene^p1,t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 118| CD

25/1

Produced a more assured round of jumping when doubling his tally over fences at Newbury (22.4f, good) in April. Has failed to make an impact in 5 starts since though, so percentage call is to look elsewhere. Cheekpieces on for first time.

Form:

Balko Saint²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 117

40/1

Mixed record over hurdles last season but did win a small-field listed novice over 2m in October 2021. Has barely beaten a rival home in 4 outings over fences, though.

Form:

Seven No Trumps^p,t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117WS

18/1

Made a promising start over fences when scoring at Lingfield (2½m) in November 2021. However, failed to last home over much longer trip at Carlisle on return and ran poorly in first-time headgear since. Had wind operation since.

Form:

Ballinsker^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 116| CD

22/1

Returned to form when third of 6 in handicap chase (14/1) over C&D (soft) 26 days ago, finishing with running left. This is more competitive but he ought to give another good account.

Form:

Amenon^p1,t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

7/1

Had a wind op before shaping encouragingly on return in handicap chase at Hereford (25.2f, soft) in November. Running below that level when coming down late on at Lingfield since but drop back in trip/addition of cheekpieces may see him in a better light.

Form:

Reserve Tank⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 115

28/1

Inconsistent sort who has drawn a blank since winning a Wincanton Grade 2 in November 2019, shaping like one with problems. Showed nothing in 2 starts for new yard.

Form:

Limetree Boy⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114| BF

11/2

Won 1 of his 4 hurdling starts and showed aptitude for chasing when third of 11 in handicap at Worcester (20f, heavy) on debut in this sphere 99 days ago. Should be more to come.

Form:

Dreaming Blue^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 114| D

22/1

Winning hurdler who posted promising third of 8 in handicap at Kempton (20.5f, good to soft, 25/1) on debut over fences in November. Well below that level at Wincanton since, however.

Form:

Goudhurst Star^p1,t⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 113| D

16/1

Fair winning novice hurdler last season but made a disappointing start to his chase career when down the field on his 2½m Lingfield reappearance in November. Still early days but he'll need to leave that well behind now tried in cheekpieces.

Form:

Do It For Thy Sen^b1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 106

25/1

Lost his unbeaten record over 20.4f at Southwell in rather tame fashion on return in November and no real impact over C&D since. Tried in blinkers now.

Form:

Hipop Des Ongrais⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D A Jacob| T: R Walford| OR: 102| D

6/5

Appealed as the type to make a better chaser and duly stepped up on his seasonal/chase debut when winning handicap at Fontwell (19.5f) in December, impressing with his jumping. Can follow up with further progress to come.

Form:

Skinflint^p³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 97| BF

15/2

Consistent sort who made the frame again when third of 13 in handicap chase at Hereford (20.9f, soft) 30 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and likely to be in the mix again.

Form:

Forecasts

Hipop Des Ongrais (6/5), Limetree Boy (11/2), Amenon (7/1), Skinflint (15/2), Goudhurst Star (16/1), Thomas Macdonagh (18/1), Seven No Trumps (18/1), Ballinsker (22/1), Dreaming Blue (22/1), Duc De Beauchene (25/1), Do It For Thy Sen (25/1), Reserve Tank (28/1), Balko Saint (40/1)

HIPOP DES ONGRAIS appeals as the type to win more races over fences and can make light of an 8 lb rise in the handicap here. Limetree Boy and Skinflint rate the principal dangers.