October 08 / 15.27 Chepstow

15.27

Good To Firm

John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
SKY
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John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25

Form: 132U4- C BF

Last run: 168 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Gained his only chasing win from six attempts in a match race but his clear second in a Listed handicap at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) in March was a good effort, and he certainly didn't run badly when fourth (albeit well held in the end) over that C&D the following month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Flic Ou Voyou

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

Resurgent 11yo who won three 2m4f chases last season and was creditable second in valuable series final for veterans at Haydock (2m4f, good) last month; can't be ignored in current form.

7/2

1st

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Flic Ou Voyou

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

Resurgent 11yo who won three 2m4f chases last season and was creditable second in valuable series final for veterans at Haydock (2m4f, good) last month; can't be ignored in current form.

7/2

2nd

5

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Flic Ou Voyou

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

prominent, pressed leader before 4 out, hampered by loose horse on turn after 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, no extra and no chance with winner after 2 out

8/1

Form: F6252- D BF

Last run: 196 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Didn't win last season but was pretty consistent; second off today's mark at Stratford (2m6f, good) on latest outing in March and ought to make his presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, weakened gradually after 4 out

10/1

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Questionable what he achieved behind an easy winner when back chasing at Ludlow in February and especially after a lesser run at Newbury, albeit in a strong handicap (2m4f, good to soft); on the plus side, drying conditions are in his favour and his only previous attempt at 3m was in the valuable handicap at this track in 2022; could be a player after wind surgery.

10/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Galahad Quest

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, outpaced after 12th, weakened after 2 out

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 04414- CD

Last run: 183 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Won this race comfortably by over 9l a year ago (good ground) and produced even better performance when taking Grade 3 Newbury handicap (2m4f, soft) by 15l in March; very respectable fourth in Aintree Grade 1 on latest outing in April; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Paint The Dream

11st 7lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Best known for his heroics at Newbury but is also suited by this track; very well handicapped on old form for Fergal O'Brien but, following a long absence, has not shown a great deal for his owner-trainer this season, including when back at Newbury last month; revival needed.

25/1

7th

5

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Paint The Dream

11st 7lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Best known for his heroics at Newbury but is also suited by this track; very well handicapped on old form for Fergal O'Brien but, following a long absence, has not shown a great deal for his owner-trainer this season, including when back at Newbury last month; revival needed.

25/1

7

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Paint The Dream

10st 11lb

J: Connor Brace

T: David Brace

Record of 3-4 over fences at Newbury includes two attempts in this contest, winning easily (off 12lb higher) in 2022 and third in 2023; has struggled elsewhere since returning from long absence but may prove resurgent back here, despite his advancing years.

16/1

Form: -31712 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Won two good-ground chases in the spring (2m1f/2m3f) and has been in good form over hurdles more recently; no match for clear winner when second in valuable series final at Worcester (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago but is likely to run his race again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Light N Strike

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Progressive for Emma Lavelle last term, winning this off today's mark and backing it up with solid placed efforts; however, he's struggled for this yard (early unseat in Kerry National, pulled up at Chepstow and tailed off at Cheltenham when last seen in October) and now has something to prove.

13/2

5

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Light N Strike

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Five-time winner over fences but got no further than the first in the Kerry National on stable debut and didn't run much of a race at Chepstow two weeks ago; this is a tough race in which to bounce back.

40/1

1

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:45 Chepstow

Light N Strike

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Got no further than the first in the recent Kerry National at Listowel; has won five times over fences and was mostly consistent for Emma Lavelle earlier this year; wouldn't be that well handicapped but entitled to have a say.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.90
Straight Forecast £12.15
Trifecta £25.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Paint The Dream

TOPSPEED:

Flic Ou Voyou

POSTDATA:

Light N Strike

Daily Express:

Galahad Quest

Daily Record:

Light N Strike

WEST COUNTRY:

Flic Ou Voyou

The Star:

Flic Ou Voyou

RP Ratings:

Paint The Dream

The Times:

Paint The Dream

Telegraph:

Paint The Dream

The Guardian:

Paint The Dream

Daily Mail:

Paint The Dream

Daily Mirror:

Paint The Dream

The Sun:

Paint The Dream