Chepstow – Tuesday 26th October

Sunday was a hard day to assess overall as out of the five selections, I was disappointed with some of the runs of some of my more fancied runners. I would like to hope that plenty of them will improve for those efforts next time out. That being said, there was an impressive winner in the form of Dympnas Well, who was well backed all morning from 7s into 10/3 and won decisively. That’s the third time that this mare has won this summer, and it’s been the third time we’ve backed her successfully, so she has been a lucky hallmark for the page. 

In my week-long escapade to Britain, I’m trying to tick off as many meetings as I can, and I’m lucky enough to be attending Chepstow tomorrow, for the second time in the last month. The card looks challenging but informative, and I have managed to pick out four of my biggest fancies for the card. Starting off with the 2.30 race, which is 3m2f Novices Handicap Chase. It seems like a potential chance for chase debutante, Docpickedme – to finally show off why his syndicate chunked out 75,000 for him at the Sales last year. He has been slightly underwhelming since then, only picking up a novice hurdle in the interim, but he should be better than a mark of 118 in this sort of event. He brings scope of improvement to his chase debut under rules, and his PtP form is strong. At a general price of 3/1, I make him a bet. 

The 3.40 race is a 2m mares handicap hurdle and is for horses rated between 0-100. This low grade affair looks an open contest and might suit a bigger priced horse with each way credentials. Merry Mistress is the horse that I believe might fit that bill, with a likeable profile for a race of this nature for her second start for a new trainer. Having won a bumper on debut, she has not been able to kick on from that effort, but her recent efforts have not been without promise. The third at Warwick last time out on her stable debut was a good effort and she is not unfairly treated off a mark of 97. At a price of 7/1 with SkyBet, who pay out 5 places, she is an each way bet. 

The 4.15 race is not too different to the 2.30 race, as this classy Novice Handicap over 3 miles has some really nice types making their chase debuts. The one I would quite fancy in this race is Pats Fancy, who is on somewhat of a recovery mission for Rebecca Curtis after the wheels fell off on his season last year. Having looked a really promising early season novice hurdler, he was well beaten in races at Cheltenham and Aintree, but now returns to a more realistic level. In fact, some might argue that his best form would indicate that a mark of 128 is more than lenient enough in this type of grade, and if taking to this discipline well – could well outrun his odds. At a price of 5/1, he is a win bet in this race. 

And the final race I’ll be covering from Chepstow is the 4.50 race, which is a 2m3f handicap hurdle and sees a huge field of 17 go to post in perhaps the most open race of the day. It is very hard to make a strong case for any horse in this race, as the field is 11/2 currently and plenty could have a say in this race. I will be taking a chance on Sinister Minister, who makes his debut for the ever growing Sheila Lewis stable. This horse signed off from the Twiston-Davies yard with his best start to date at Worcester last time out, when only a couple lengths behind the smart Brief Ambition. That form entitles him to a massive say in this race, and a mark of 105 should be within reach. If able to translate that performance again, he should run very well. He is currently 6/1 with SkyBet, who offer 6 places, and should be backed each way.