July 28 / 17.09 Chepstow

17.09

Good To Soft

Vickers.Bet Handicap

  • Prize money: £3873.16
  • 1m 0f 14y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Vickers.Bet Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 222522 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in five of his six starts since gaining his only success at Bath (1m, good) in May, including at Nottingham (1m, soft) seven days ago; races off the same mark and should go well again, but may be vulnerable for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(14)

15th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

16:40 Dundalk (AW)

Obama Army

9st 12lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; steadily working his way into form of late, although slow starts haven't helped his cause the last twice; wide draw a negative.

13/2

3

(9)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 1f 110y

17:07 Gowran Park

Obama Army

9st 12lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; steadily working his way into form of late, although slow start didn't help at Naas on Tuesday when 4.25l off Roderick; this trip his limit.

8/1

5th

7

(4)

23rd Jul 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 0y

19:10 Naas

Obama Army

9st 11lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Adrian McGuinness

Best form was in Britain in 2023; recent fourth placings at Tipperary and Dundalk provide grounds for optimism.

7/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: -52631 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Handy sort whose course record reads 131142631, his latest success coming over 7f (good to soft) 18 days ago; 3lb higher but a bigger question is that he attempts this far for the first time on his 33rd start and his pedigree doesn't guarantee he will stay; stable won this in 2015 and 2016.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(7)

3rd Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

15:20 Bath

Macs Dilemma

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

C&D winner; losing run stretches back over two years and he hasn't fired yet this year; dropped 10lb as a result but perhaps not ready to capitalise just yet.

33/1

3

(3)

22nd Jul 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Macs Dilemma

9st 13lb

J: James Turner

T: John O’Shea

Not run on the AW since 2022 and has regressed on turf in recent times, having been rated a stone higher at the start of last season; well held in three runs round his beloved Chepstow this year.

16/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 40-687 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 1lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Held in three starts since returning in April, albeit not enjoying a smooth passage when seventh of ten at Windsor (1m, good to firm) last month; back off her last winning mark, so can't be dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(2)

24th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Celtic Empress

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Heather Main

Still 1lb lower than when last successful and ran with credit when fourth of ten at Goodwood (1m, soft) nine days ago; well beaten in one previous go on the AW (at Kempton) so she does have a bit to prove.

12/1

4th

8

(4)

15th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Celtic Empress

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Heather Main

Best effort this term when third at Chepstow (1m, good to soft) on penultimate start; exposed mare but is handicapped to go well, having won off 1lb higher here in August 2022; creditable fourth in this race last year.

14/1

Form: 05300-

Last run: 284 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
3lb lower than for sole success at Doncaster (7f, soft) in May 2021 but not seen since tailed off at Windsor (1m, soft) last October; tongued tied for this return and the market may indicate what is expected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(5)

2nd Jan 2024

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Typical Man

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Ian Williams

Infrequent winner and there were some heavy defeats amongst his 2023 efforts, including his last three starts; there has been the odd flicker of promise along the way though and the drop into this grade could help; the concern is his best runs last year came in a tongue-tie which is absent today.

12/1

9th

5

(12)

18th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Typical Man

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

dwelt start, took keen hold, in rear, midfield after 5f

25/1

8

10th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

15:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Typical Man

9st 7lb

T: Ian Williams

Form: -74302

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner as a 2yo but 0-11 in handicaps; ran well when second of 14 behind a subsequent winner at Kempton (1m, AW) last month, but has gone back up 2lb for that and could probably do with the ground drying out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(5)

25th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Last Hoorah

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

prominent

4/1

4th

2

(5)

11th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Last Hoorah

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

in touch with leaders

12/1

4th

6

(6)

2nd Sep 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Last Hoorah

9st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

took keen hold, pressed leader, led 6f out

4/1

14/1

Form: 633160 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Did well after returning in April, including when making it eighth-time lucky at Windsor (1m, good to firm) in May; out of the frame in both outings since but she had an excuse each time and could easily bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(5)

5th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Valkyrian

10st 2lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Secured a third win of 2024 at Chepstow (1m) in August and not discredited off a 5lb higher mark when fourth of 14 at Kempton (1m) four weeks ago; he ought to be thereabouts.

7/1

4th

14

(5)

7th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Valkyrian

9st 1lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

mounted in chute and taken down early, led early, headed and prominent after 1f, no extra inside final 110yds

8/1

Form: 086553 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Has dropped a long way in the weights and confirmed that he may be on the way back when beaten just over a length into third of 11 behind Macs Dilemma here (7f, good to soft) 18 days ago; 3lb better off and, unlike his old rival, proven over this far; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(12)

29th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:40 Down Royal

Shoot To Kill

10st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Noel C Kelly

Two wins last year on good ground for different trainers, including 7.5f Roscommon handicap off 80; now 10lb lower plus talented claimer takes off another 5lb; got his favoured ground when eyecatching third of 14 at Roscommon from tough draw 18 days ago; big chance.

4/1

3rd

15

(17)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:53 Roscommon

Shoot To Kill

9st 6lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Noel C Kelly

Two wins last year included this race off a mark of 80 when trained by Stephen Thorne; 8lb lower now, talented claimer takes off another 5lb and gets his favoured good ground for the first time this year; drawn wide but dangerous to dismiss.

10/1

13th

10

(12)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Shoot To Kill

9st 7lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Noel C Kelly

Veteran has won 12 of his 81 starts including five wins on turf; best form is on good ground, though he wasn't beaten that far over C&D on testing ground last October; has had a pipe opener at Dundalk and could outrun odds off 4lb lower.

33/1

3/1

Form: 510-42

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced filly who won a handicap at Cork (7f, good) last August and has run very well in both starts since returning last month, finishing fourth of 20 over the same C&D (yielding) and beaten just half a length into second of 13 at Naas (1m, good) 12 days later despite being a long way out of the weights; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

4

30th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

19:00 Tramore

Hastily

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: Tom McGuinness

Has no form in maiden hurdles and she's now a low-grade Flat performer; no appeal.

100/1

15th

8

(8)

20th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

18:50 Gowran Park

Hastily

9st 4lb

J: Jack Cleary

T: Tom McGuinness

Winner of four of her 42 races; most recent success was over 6f at Cork last July; not the most consistent sort and has rarely shown her best form at this trip.

20/1

16th

13

(14)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

14:03 Naas

Hastily

8st 7lb

J: Jack Cleary

T: Tom McGuinness

Consistency not a strong suit but capable on her day and has won four times; however, she's 9lb above her last win, she lacks a recent run and might just need this.

25/1

Non-runners

Ellade

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.50
Straight Forecast £19.79
Tricast £72.16
Trifecta £108.80

Selections

POSTDATA:

Last Hoorah

SPOTLIGHT:

Hastily

WEST COUNTRY:

Macs Dilemma

The Guardian:

Obama Army

The Times:

Valkyrian

RP RATINGS:

Celtic Empress

LAMBOURN:

Last Hoorah

Telegraph:

Last Hoorah

Daily Mail:

Last Hoorah

Daily Record:

Last Hoorah

D Express:

Hastily

Daily Mirror:

Hastily

The Sun:

Macs Dilemma

The Star:

Macs Dilemma