16:44 Chepstow

Monday 21 April 2025

All13:4914:2414:5915:3416:0716:4417:1917:55

Tip Top Sensational Shower Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:44 | Winning time: 5m 49.13s

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Selected odds by:

Impecunious¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 100| C

7/2

Left previous handicap form well behind when opening his account in a 10-runner contest here (19.4f, good) 16 days ago, landing a signficant gamble in the process. Stamina to prove now upped in trip but 4 lb fair enough and will be a danger to all if able to build on that breakthrough success.

Form: 375001

Ri Na Cuirte^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 100

11/4

Well backed and much improved after 6 months off when narrowly landing a 3¼m Fontwell handicap in November. Back on track following a couple of low-key efforts when runner-up over this C&D with cheekpieces refitted last month and reproduction of that will put him firmly in the picture.

Form: 813972

Hawk Stone⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: James Best| T: H Dickin| OR: 100

25/1

In good form last spring, runner-up twice before getting off the mark at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy). Well below that level in 3 starts so far this season, including when tried in cheekpieces (omitted here) at Ludlow last time, and a large cloud of doubt looms in respect of his stamina for this trip.

Form: 221-896

Lough Owel^t1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver| T: D Summersby| OR: 96| D

50/1

Fair form at best for Gordon Elliott but ended time with that yard on a low note and it's hard to draw any real positives from what he's shown in 3 runs for this yard. Sports a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 34-7005

Mattie Ross^p1²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: R T Phillips| OR: 94

33/1

Gained reward for some creditable efforts last season when winning Market Rasen handicap (23f, good) last summer. Made little impact in 4 starts since, though, and hopes pinned on the first-time cheekpieces helping to spark a revival here.

Form: 41P05P

My Louise²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 90

11/1

Winner of 2 of her 3 starts in bumpers but below that level over hurdles so far, for all that her latest fifth of 12 in a Stratford handicap (2¾m, good to firm) represented her best effort yet in this sphere. Others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 18-5475

Tom Taggle⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 82

11/2

Stepped up on maiden/novice form sent handicapping at Taunton (19f, soft) where he finished fourth of 10 in the race won by Rodney (winner again since) in February. However, he failed to build on that upped to 21f at Ludlow next time and much depends on whether this stiffer test works in his favour.

Form: 0-06446

Quite The Getaway⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R Bevis| OR: 81

10/1

Twice hit the frame in bumpers for this yard in 2023 prior to showing little in 3 runs over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Didn't show much on first 2 runs in handicap company back with this yard either but fared better when fifth of 13 at Stratford (2¾m, good to soft) last time. Each-way shout.

Form: 696-745

Penthouse Poppet²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 80

25/1

Looked modest in Ireland for Colin McBratney and beaten a fair way back under Rules on yard debut at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) last month. Hard to envisage this step back up in trip prompting the required improvement for this 8-y-o to emerge on top here.

Form: 756545

Fantomas^t1,v⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 79| D

16/1

Scored at Hereford last spring but that's his sole success from 21 starts over hurdles and he hasn't shown much in 2 appearances since returning from a break in December. Now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 35-3P09

Gorcombe Moonshine^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 76

22/1

Sole victory came over fences back in December 2023 but has performed with credit over hurdles this season, placed again when third in a 5-runner handicap at Plumpton (20.5f, good) recently. Solid each-way claims off the same mark.

Form: 382373

Watchoutitscookie^p1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 75

12/1

Landed a gamble when making all in a Newcastle novices' handicap chase (23.4f, good to soft) in December but has followed that with a string of below par efforts. Conversely, he resumes in this sphere on a workable mark and will be a threat if the first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.

Form: 35165F

Dom Bosco^p¹¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T R George| OR: 75

33/1

Remains winless following 13 attempts overall and pulled up all 3 starts since returning from a long layoff in October.

Form: 0/5P-PPP

Sawpit Samantha^h,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 73

14/1

Encouraging start for new connections when third of 11 over 20.5f here in December. No show down to 2m next 2 starts but back on track upped to 3m when third in a 9-runner Taunton handicap last month and she's a live each-way candidate off the same mark.

Form: 35-3783

Elfride^t⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R T Phillips| OR: 72

22/1

On a losing run and while she posted her best effort of this season when sixth at Warwick last time, it's best to look elsewhere in search of the winner.

Form: 7684P6

Non-Runners

Lightonthewing²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 10

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Lucy Gardner

Forecasts

Ri Na Cuirte (11/4), Impecunious (7/2), Tom Taggle (11/2), Quite The Getaway (10/1), My Louise (11/1), Watchoutitscookie (12/1), Sawpit Samantha (14/1), Fantomas (16/1), Lightonthewing (16/1), Gorcombe Moonshine (22/1), Elfride (22/1), Penthouse Poppet (25/1), Hawk Stone (25/1), Dom Bosco (33/1), Mattie Ross (33/1), Lough Owel (50/1)

The vote goes to RI NA CUIRTE, who bumped into an unexposed one when runner-up over C&D last time and a 4 lb rise for that effort is by no means harsh. Impecunious has also been raised 4 lb for his recent success over 19.4f here and, provided he stays this trip and is able to keep his quirks in check, the 6-y-o will be a theat. The consistent Gorcombe Moonshine and Sawpit Samantha both make each-way appeal.