January 28 / 15.17 Chepstow

15.17

Soft

Congratulations 2024 WGN Winner Val Dancer Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 2m 7f 131y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Congratulations 2024 WGN Winner Val Dancer Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 346-31 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Sprawled at the last on his chasing debut at Ludlow in November but made amends when getting back up close home to get off the mark at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) four weeks ago; should have plenty of improvement in him and holds sound claims off 6lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:45 Uttoxeter

Jo Lescribaa

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Venetia Williams

Made all to win two chase (3m; good to soft and heavy) last winter but he's flopped in his last two starts and latest was at this track in November; still unexposed in this sphere but he needs to get back on track after another break.

10/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -57533 BF

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Knocking on the door over hurdles having been placed on her last two starts; makes chasing debut but needs to hit the ground running in this new discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:02 Chepstow

The Midwife

11st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Better chaser than hurdler and won by over 8l here last month; a 7lb rise didn't look too harsh and she duly ran well again at Warwick, finding only one too good (again on soft); enters the reckoning.

3/1

2nd

5

21st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Warwick

The Midwife

11st 10lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in rear, headway 12th, went third after 13th, no impression approaching last, kept on and went second towards finish, no match for winner

7/4

1st

7

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

The Midwife

10st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Won her only point; handicap hurdle win came off 2lb higher and she ran two solid races in that discipline before finding only one too good on her switch to fences over C&D 12 days ago (heavy); aided by another low weight, she should have a part to play.

5/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 16P-31 CD

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner (one over C&D) on heavy around this time last year and returned to his best when successful at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last month; up 5lb but there should be more to come from him on a track and ground that suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Mar 2025

Good

3m 6f 130y

Class 4

16:05 Chepstow

Twilight Glory

11st 2lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

midfield, not fluent and lost ground 6th, struggling before 11th

6/1

2nd

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

14:35 Lingfield

Twilight Glory

11st 10lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Won this two years ago and has gained three further wins in the meantime; ran perfectly well off this career-high mark at Chepstow last month; in the mix.

100/30

3rd

8

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

Twilight Glory

11st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

in touch with leaders

5/1

12/1

Form: P-8336 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Decent third at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December but remote sixth of seven at this track (3m2f, heavy) 23 days ago, on the retreat when hitting four out; back on his last winning mark but needs to return to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Shot Boii

11st 5lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Seemingly back in good nick when second over fences in December but two lacklustre efforts have followed and it's hard to predict whether this first hurdle run since 2023 will rekindle his enthusiasm.

33/1

8

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

14:50 Taunton

Shot Boii

11st 4lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Runner-up at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) in December but never going after an early mistake when pulled up at Ludlow since, taking his overall chase record to 1-18; first-time blinkers replace regular visor.

11/1

6

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

12:32 Ludlow

Shot Boii

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Just 1-17 over fences, and last time's 5l second at Wincanton (3m1f, soft; kept on but never threatened) owed something to the late exit of Anytrixwilldo; mark unmoved but Rian Corcoran claiming 2lb fewer this time.

15/8

Form: 7/P574

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Yet to be placed from seven starts under rules, including when seventh of ten finishers to Twilight Glory at Lingfield last month; needs to show significantly more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

The Big Reveal

11st 2lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Goes well here; unlucky not to win on his penultimate visit but made no mistake last time (this trip on soft) and likely to go well again despite the 6lb rise.

6/1

1st

12

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

The Big Reveal

10st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Grace Harris

Came good with ready win on seasonal debut at Lingfield (2m7f, good), despite jockey losing irons, and held clear lead before penultimate-fence fall over C&D (soft) last month; has to take a 6lb rise on the chin but still features prominently in calculations.

7/2

17

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:47 Chepstow

The Big Reveal

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Grace Harris

Came good with ready win on seasonal debut at Lingfield (2m7f, good) despite jockey losing irons on run-in; both subsequent runs were perfectly respectable but he needs to kick on again to land this prize.

12/1

Form: 2115-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won twice at Exeter last March and made a pleasing return when third at Exeter (3m, soft) this month; has low mileage and holds claims if able to build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Bampton Star

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Launched his chasing career with two 3m wins in the mud at Exeter last March and scored again over that C&D on latest outing (same race as last year) but this time on good ground under claimer Chad Bament; the latter was by just a short head (after third-placed Shot Boii was reeled in close home) but he should remain competitive going back up 3lb.

11/2

3

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Bampton Star

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Launched his chasing career with two 3m wins in the mud at Exeter last March and scored again over that C&D on latest outing (same race as last year) but this time on good ground under claimer Chad Bament; the latter was by just a short head (after third-placed Shot Boii was reeled in close home) but he should remain competitive going back up 3lb.

11/2

Form: 14-211 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Not straightforward but is in cracking form at present, landing back-to-back wins at Ffos Las in November (3m, soft) and December (3m1f, heavy); still unexposed as a chaser and should go well off 9lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

The Scorpion King

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Only four completed when a 16l third at Exeter (3m, good to soft) and that was another effort well below the form he showed in 2024; reduced mark is for good reason but this isn't a strong race, so hard to leave him out of calculations.

11/1

3rd

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Well handicapped on his wins in staying chases two seasons ago but this campaign needs to turn a corner and he'd prefer softer ground.

12/1

1

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

raced wide, towards rear, dropped to last before 11th

9/4

Form: 31-138 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Made a winning chasing debut off this mark at Ludlow (3m, good) in October but beaten twice back there since; still unexposed as a chaser and holds claims if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Ask Brewster

10st 11lb

J: Mr S Cotter

T: Mrs C Williams

3m4f resulted in an 8l win at Cheltenham last April and he's won over 3m/3m2f in two of his three starts this season; latest was the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in which he was always front rank under Shane Cotter and responded admirably when Road To Home joined him on the run-in; up 7lb but this trip makes plenty of appeal and all five chase wins have been on good ground or good to firm (withdrawn from Scottish National last week due to the heavy); has a bit to prove going right-handed, with a run here in December prompting concern, but otherwise lots to like.

7/1

1st

22

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Ask Brewster

10st 11lb

J: Mr S Cotter

T: Mrs C Williams

Hat-trick last year (2m7f/3m4f, good/good to firm) featured a spring win at Cheltenham; ran well for a long way before tiring at Sandown (3m4f) in December on going that was good to soft, soft in places; better ground today would be a plus for his claims.

20/1

Form: P63O12

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark over fences at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft; 22-1) in November and ran well again when second of four finishers at Taunton (2m2f, good) last month; she steps up in trip but is 6lb wrong at the weights and needs to improve again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

My Mate Polly

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

took keen hold, prominent, lost ground before 4th, midfield 11th

12/1

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

My Mate Polly

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

took keen hold, prominent, lost ground before 4th, midfield 11th

12/1

Non-runners

Castle Daragh, The Boola Boss

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.90
Straight Forecast £21.51
Tricast £156.01
Trifecta £167.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

The Scorpion King

SPOTLIGHT:

Jo Lescribaa

WEST COUNTRY:

Bampton Star

D Express:

The Midwife

POSTDATA:

Shot Boii

Daily Record:

Twilight Glory

TOPSPEED:

The Boola Boss

Telegraph:

Jo Lescribaa

Daily Mirror:

Jo Lescribaa

The Star:

Bampton Star

LAMBOURN:

The Scorpion King

The Times:

The Scorpion King

The Guardian:

The Scorpion King

Daily Mail:

The Scorpion King