January 16 / 14.35 Chepstow

14.35

Good To Soft

Vickers.Bet Weekly Free Bet Club Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5650.67
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet Weekly Free Bet Club Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 111 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in three soft-ground hurdle races over 1m7f/2m; big market mover when winning his maiden and had no trouble following up here in a weak race; brought up the hat-trick on his handicap debut at Wincanton when more workmanlike than flashy; raised 6lb but it's hard to know where his limitations lie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lowrys Bar

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Largely progressive prior to bleeding from the nose on his final start last season (February) and he did not show much when pulled up again here in November, albeit in a top 3m2f handicap chase (22-1); this is his first hurdle race since October 2024 and there are plenty of reasons to believe he's well handicapped if all is well with him.

7/1

1

22nd Feb 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Lowrys Bar

12st 0lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

in touch with leaders

11/2

Form: 116/12 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Hooded until this season; it was never in much doubt when defying a long absence with ease at Warwick (2m3f, soft) and he overraced a little when vulnerable in the finish at Haydock (heavy); raised another 3lb and goes without James Turner's 8lb claim, so looks to have more on his plate; races prominently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Kempton

Lord Of Cheshire

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Beat three rivals to make winning seasonal/chase debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) in October and ran well until penultimate-fence fall on latest outing in December; effective on good ground and might still have more to offer over fences; respected.

9/4

1st

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Kempton

Lord Of Cheshire

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Beat three rivals to make winning seasonal/chase debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) in October and ran well until penultimate-fence fall on latest outing in December; effective on good ground and might still have more to offer over fences; respected.

9/4

3

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 3

12:25 Doncaster

Lord Of Cheshire

11st 9lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, went clear 2nd, not fluent 3rd, mistake 9th

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 37-314

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Led on the run-in to land a 14-runner handicap on soft ground at Warwick (2m5f) but only fourth here next time off today's 5lb higher mark (Dylan Johnston aboard the last twice); couldn't really blame the longer trip of 2m7f but losing a shoe probably didn't help his cause.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 3

14:30 Warwick

Benign Dictator

11st 4lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

Career-best form came here in December when scoring over 3m2f (good to soft); hasn't really approached that level since, in cheekpieces and blinkers (new) the last twice.

15/2

6th

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:37 Bangor-on-Dee

Benign Dictator

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Posted career-best effort when scoring at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft) in December but two laboured efforts have followed this year; wore refitted cheekpieces last time; first-time blinkers are given a whirl here.

9/1

7th

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

16:43 Newbury

Benign Dictator

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

3-15 over hurdles, latest win at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; below form on latest outing, though, and needs to bounce back with career-best effort here; cheekpieces (absent this term) are refitted.

8/1

Form: /245/3 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle/chase winner and 6l third over 2m7f here (heavy) on last month's belated return to jumping, having won his two previous starts on the Flat; visor enlisted (replacing cheekpieces) and he has it in him to go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(5)

2nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

14:45 Pontefract

Black Kalanisi

9st 8lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Ian Williams

C&D winner last October and followed up on heavy ground at Newmarket; returns to the Flat off a 6lb higher mark and after pulling up over hurdles in February; will need to be approaching his best.

7/2

5th

3

(5)

2nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

14:45 Pontefract

Black Kalanisi

9st 8lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Ian Williams

C&D winner last October and followed up on heavy ground at Newmarket; returns to the Flat off a 6lb higher mark and after pulling up over hurdles in February; will need to be approaching his best.

7/2

2

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:15 Ludlow

Black Kalanisi

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Ian Williams

Gained his Flat wins in the autumn over 2m/2m2f; subsequent hurdles efforts at about 3m; veteran who may not be crying out for this drop back to sharp 2m5f under this code.

7/1

Form: P-P164

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Only 1lb higher than for his Lingfield win in November (2m, soft; first-time cheekpieces); below par since but it was a warm Newbury handicap next time and the ground was heavy at Wincanton; good to soft is probably ideal, so one to note.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Celtic Art

11st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Six-time hurdle winner who hit a personal best when scoring at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January but his form has slumped in two subsequent runs; has bit to prove again and this is competitive on this drop back in trip.

14/1

8th

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Celtic Art

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Showed career-best form when comfortably winning from Bourbali at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and a subsequent lesser effort on heavy ground there is not viewed harshly; has been ridden by a good 7lb claimer lately, though, and might find others better handicapped.

9/2

5th

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Celtic Art

11st 1lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Has done very well over 2m3f here in recent months, winning twice and second in between; those results were achieved on good/good to soft and today's much deeper ground is a slight concern given he's been below par on both hurdle outings on heavy.

3/1

Abandoned

Form: 21/772 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Returned from a mammoth absence in October and showed signs of getting it together again when keeping on for second behind an all-the-way winner at Hereford (3m1f, good) last time; won his novice over C&D (on heavy) so likely to go well if holding his form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

1st Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Slip Road

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Peter Bowen

held up in rear, not fluent 7th

11/2

2nd

2

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Slip Road

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter Bowen

Absent for 1,058 days before his recent return to action and has been well held in handicaps at about 2m4f; however, this would be easier and the longer trip is worth a go.

8/1

Form: 23-323 BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Went up 6lb for a narrow failure over 2m5f at Hereford but it could have been that a longer trip of 3m1f stretched him back there a month ago when upside Slip Road; now placed in all his handicaps and shouldn't be far away; good or good to soft is fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Bertie Wooster

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-24, the win coming over this far as a hurdler nearly two years ago; however, twice runner-up over fences this season (2m7f) and capable of going well.

13/2

3rd

1

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:40 Plumpton

Bertie Wooster

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 and generally disappointing during first season over fences, signing off with a poor performance in April; returns from six-month break on a good mark, though, and last month's wind op could quite plausibly aid a return to form; cheekpieces (worn for last three runs) discarded.

5/2

Form: -28523

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Placed in both his handicaps (about 2m; heavy/soft) and only 2l behind Lowry's Bar last time at Wincanton despite a late mistake that probably cost him second; Isabel Williams takes off 3lb this time and he's a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:00 Chepstow

Out Of Focus

11st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has often run well in handicap hurdles, including over C&D on heavy, but below best this winter despite falling in the weights and he didn't put up much of a show last time out; first-time cheekpieces on.

16/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

Verdict

A competitive handicap in which all the runners merit attention. Lowry’s Bar is 3-3 over hurdles but he’s no certainty to confirm latest Wincanton placings with second choice Out Of Focus, who made a late mistake and has a pull in the weights. CELTIC ART wouldn’t have been suited by heavy ground last time and that was after facing a tough task at Newbury. He’s on a handy mark and good to soft looks just the ticket for him.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Lowry's Bar

RP RATINGS:

Bertie Wooster

Daily Record:

Lord Of Cheshire

TOPSPEED:

Benign Dictator

SPOTLIGHT:

Celtic Art

The Star:

Black Kalanisi

The Times:

Lowry's Bar

Telegraph:

Lowry's Bar

The Guardian:

Lowry's Bar

Daily Mail:

Lowry's Bar

Daily Mirror:

Lowry's Bar

The Sun:

Lowry's Bar

POSTDATA:

Bertie Wooster

D Express:

Bertie Wooster