15.00
SoftLionel Richie Chepstow Racecourse This Summer Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £7076.54
- 2m 3f 100y
- Class 3
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Form: 2362-3
Last run: 60 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
28th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 2 |
11st 1lb |
Placed a few times at Listed/Graded level over fences in France; remote last of three finishers at Ascot (2m3f) on British debut; that effort doesn't suggest a first chase win is imminent but some improvement looks possible, given his French form; tongue-tie/cheekpieces refitted. |
33/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
18th Nov 2022 Good To Soft 2m 2f 175y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
in touch with leaders, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, left in remote third 2 out |
13/2 |
Form: /711P- D BF
Last run: 335 days
W: 11st 11lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 7 |
27th Dec 2023 Good 3m 0f 121y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Had interesting times over fences, a wide-margin winner on one occasion from five attempts but pulled up three times and finished remote on the other; dropped right out on return to hurdles in November but she did run well in this race in 2020 before winning it the following year and is lower in the weights than for either of those runs; cannot ignore. |
16/1 |
|
5th 4 |
22nd Nov 2023 Heavy 2m 7f 191y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
A case of all or nothing over fences earlier in the year, a 41l success at Bangor (3m, good to soft) in March surrounded by four modest efforts; has dropped 4lb lower than when last winning over hurdles, though, and won't have a problem with the trip or likely testing ground; shortlisted. |
10/1 |
Form: 3P2F-0 D
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 9lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 3 |
9th Dec 2023 Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Very useful chaser in his prime but needed considerable help from the handicapper before his hurdling win for Dan Skelton in March; unplaced in five French hurdles since joining Sophie Leech and not the most obvious answer here; suited by soft/heavy ground. |
33/1 |
|
1st 2 |
22nd Mar 2023 Soft 2m 2f 191y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
With the cheekpieces off and having dropped down the weights, he returned to form with a creditable third at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) last month; his rules wins have come on soft/heavy ground and he's a strong contender if producing another good performance here. |
4/1 |
Form: P-4846 D
Last run: 10 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
10th Mar 2023 Good 2m 5f 137y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Has performed reasonably in three hurdling starts since returning from a spell chasing, the latest over 2m7f here two weeks ago; tendency to race keenly a negative and only hurdle win came more than two years ago. |
13/2 |
|
5th 1 |
24th Feb 2023 Good 2m 7f 25y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
raced freely, disputed lead, led 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, soon headed and ridden, weakened 2 out |
13/2 |
|
4th 2 |
3rd Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Won chase debut in December 2021; not so good since but the handicapper has reacted and this season's form (back over hurdles on latest start) suggests that he has a place chance. |
7/1 |
Form: 161-53 D BF
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 9 |
9th Nov 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 86y Class 3 |
10st 10lb |
Bumper and dual hurdle winner; ran right up to his best when narrowly foiled in a 2m7f handicap hurdle at Worcester (good; won on soft) on his final appearance in May and he's bred to be a chaser; remains in same ownership despite changing yards. |
20/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
8th May 2023 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Lightly raced 7yo who was placed on two of his three starts last season, more recently when third at Exeter (2m7f, good to soft) last month; will be favoured by the forecast rain and probably won't be far away. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
11th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 25y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
midfield, dropped to rear after 2nd, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and outpaced before 3 out |
13/2 |
Form: 1-P27 D
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
5th Jun 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk. |
6/1 |
|
5 |
5th Jun 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk. |
6/1 |
|
7th 4 |
21st Apr 2025 Good 2m 3f 100y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Scored in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in December and put a lesser run behind him when winning in first-time blinkers there (2m1f, soft) in February; it's hard to predict how well he'll perform in refitted cheekpieces but the forecast good ground won't be a problem. |
6/1 |
Form: 62-293 D
Last run: 50 days
W: 10st 13lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 |
1st Apr 2023 Soft 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 4lb |
raced in second, bad mistake and pushed along 5th, dropped to rear before 2 out, weakened quickly 2 out, tailed off |
4/1 |
|
6th 4 |
12th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Hurdle/chase winner who is not as good as he was but retains some ability; modest fourth of six in a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) 19 days ago, form which gives him something to find here. |
14/1 |
|
4th 5 |
21st Feb 2023 Good 2m 7f 16y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
took keen hold, held up in last, outpaced and pushed along 3 out, ridden and struggling when left in modest third before 2 out, soon hung right, lost third run-in |
14/1 |
Form: 5666-7 CD
Last run: 21 days
W: 10st 13lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 6 |
3rd Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
First two of his four wins came at this track; very well handicapped judged on last season's form even but ended that campaign right out of form and resumed at Christmas in the same vein; the drop back in trip looks a plus and some headgear (he last tried any in 2021) returns. |
12/1 |
|
7th 9 |
27th Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Two of his four wins have come here and he's very well handicapped on his best form, but his powers seemed on the wane last season; dangerous if refreshed by a break but others have a bit less to prove. |
14/1 |
Form: 26426- D
Last run: 505 days
W: 10st 11lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 |
31st Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Strike-rate of 5-27 over hurdles but wasn't at his best during 2021 despite win/placed form; has a long absence to overcome. |
33/1 |
Form: 523/97
Last run: 12 days
W: 10st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
4th Apr 2023 Heavy 2m 1f 165y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
prominent, not fluent 8th, soon lost ground, not fluent 9th, soon pushed along and got behind |
7/1 |
|
4th 3 |
26th Feb 2023 Good 2m 2f 208y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Quite useful hurdler but not an immediate success over fences; in moderate form over hurdles for new yard but was tenacious, despite wandering, when hanging on to his lead in an ordinary beginners' chase at Leicester recently (2m, good); favourably treated on past hurdle form and might improve. |
5/2 |
|
1st 1 |
16th Feb 2023 Good To Firm 1m 7f 201y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
made all, not fluent 2nd, pushed along when wandered around on approach to 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in |
9/2 |
Betting Forcast
8/1 Iamastar, 5/1 Emmpressive Lady, 8/1 Alnadam, 5/1 Gladiateur Allen, 100/30 Come On Gruff, 5/1 New Found Fame, 25/1 Forecast, 9/1 Kateson, 12/1 Ballyellis, 20/1 Blacko
Verdict
Most of these have question marks against them. Come On Gruff showed the right spirit when going down narrowly at Kempton and is a solid option to go well back down in trip but NEW FOUND FAME is preferred. He kept on quite pleasingly in the straight after getting outpaced on his handicap debut in a warm Kempton race and will find life easier in this company. Emmpressive Lady should have more to come this winter and is not ruled out despite the absence.[Emily Weber]
Selections
WEST COUNTRY:
Come On GruffTelegraph:
Emmpressive LadyPOSTDATA:
Gladiateur AllenRP Ratings:
KatesonSPOTLIGHT:
New Found FameThe Guardian:
BallyellisThe Times:
Come On GruffD Express:
Come On GruffThe Sun:
Come On GruffDaily Record:
Come On GruffDaily Mail:
Gladiateur AllenDaily Mirror:
Emmpressive LadyThe Star:
Emmpressive LadyTOPSPEED:
Kateson