18:00 Chepstow

Thursday 7 August 2025

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Racing League 16 Handicap

Off time: 18:01 | Winning time: 1m 33.84s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Sword^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

9/4

Quirky but talented, winning 7f Leicester handicap on only his second start for David O'Meara. 18/1, good third of 21 to Two Tribes (won Stewards' Cup since) in International Handicap at Ascot (7f, good to firm) 12 days ago, having to weave through. More than capable in this grade if in the mood.

Form: 1-01373

(12)

Shamrock Bay⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 84| D

7/2

Good second of 11 in Racing League event at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 7 days ago. Should be competitive from an unchanged mark.

Form: 1-62922

(1)

Barley^p⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

11/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2024. Last of 5 in handicap (15/2) at Thirsk (1m, good) 5 days ago.

Form: 520225

(7)

Yokkell¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Grace McEntee| T: A Wintle| OR: 82| D

50/1

Latest win at Nottingham in April. Seventh of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (1m, good to soft, 16/1) 19 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Kevin Philippart De Foy.

Form: 32-1407

(11)

Gaiety Musical³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: P D Evans| OR: 80| D

18/1

Four AW wins at the start of the year. Creditable third on turf at Newmarket in June and out off depth in listed race latest. Others are more obvious.

Form: 192538

(13)

Lyndon B^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: S D Bowen| T: J L Flint| OR: 80| D

28/1

Left reappearance behind when back to winning ways in 5-runner handicap at Windsor (1m, good to firm) 52 days ago. Should remain competitive off 3 lb higher.

Form: 2654-01

(10)

Goal Exceeded^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Finley Marsh| T: A McGuinness| OR: 80

14/1

Latest win at the Curragh in May. 8/1, eleventh of 15 in handicap at Galway (7f, good to soft) 9 days ago. Bouce back needed.

Form: 44-1070

(2)

Great Blasket^b⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 76| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Nine wins from 30 Flat runs. Career best when winning 6-runner handicap (10/3) at Sandown (1m, good) 8 days ago, well on top finish. Escapes a penalty as that was an apprentice race so his claims are obvious for the East.

Form: 070181

(8)

Yermanthere²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Joanna Mason| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75

20/1

In decent form at the start of the summer but recent efforts haven't been so good.

Form: 034260

(5)

Watch And Shoot^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: George Scott| OR: 78| BF

22/1

Lightly-raced novice winner. Unlucky not to finish closer on 1m Windsor handicap debut and seemed unsuited by the return to 7f at Leicester since. Remains unexposed now returning to 1m with blinkers also added.

Form: 31555

(9)

Lir Speciale¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 71

6/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2023. Good second of 13 in Racing League handicap at Yarmouth (1m, good to soft) 14 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 745002

(4)

Jarham^p³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: C G Cox| OR: 74

10/1

Cheekpieces on first time, good second of 13 in handicap (13/2) at Ffos Las (1m, good to soft) 38 days ago. Possible this 3-y-o may have even more to offer.

Form: 052-642

(3)

Boubyan^p³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Frederick Larson| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| D

28/1

Cheekpieces on first time, career best when winning 8-runner handicap (9/2) at Newbury (1m, good to firm) 35 days ago, having run of race. First run for yard after leaving Andrew Balding.

Form: 769-381

Forecasts

Sword (9/4), Shamrock Bay (7/2), Lir Speciale (6/1), Great Blasket (13/2), Jarham (10/1), Barley (11/1), Goal Exceeded (14/1), Gaiety Musical (18/1), Yermanthere (20/1), Watch And Shoot (22/1), Boubyan (28/1), Lyndon B (28/1), Yokkell (50/1)

GREAT BLASKET goes off the same mark as when nicely on top at Sandown last weekend and can enhance his fine strike-rate. Sword has his own ideas about the game but his latest third in the ultra-competitive International at Ascot shows he's good when in the mood. Unexposed 3-y-os Watch And Shoot and Jarham complete the shortlist.