March 21 / 15.50 Chepstow

15.50

Soft

Filon Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Filon Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £13.20
  • Place: £4.40

Form: 4483

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who ran okay in two maidens at this track; beaten 16l and 29l in two handicaps (2m3f/2m5f) but could come good at some point.
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run-in; up 7lb but this trip makes plenty of appeal and all five chase wins have been on good ground or good to firm (withdrawn from Scottish National last week due to the heavy); has a bit to prove going right-handed, with a run here in December prompting concern, but otherwise lots to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

5/6

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 442111

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Improving mare on a four-timer and it was never in doubt last time at Taunton (3m, soft); dropping back to 2m3f shouldn't be too big a deal and she's 5lb well-in even with a penalty; obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:00 Exeter

Lady Balko

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Made very good progress over hurdles then fences last year, with the latest of six wins gained in quite valuable mares' handicap chase at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in December; will be dangerous if in similar mood here but suffered a worrying slump in form on her two starts last month and needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

10/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

Form: 52-334 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
3lb out of the weights; sole hurdle success was in late 2020 at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) and he didn't run too badly there just before Christmas; a lengthy break in the meantime reduces his appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Richardson

10st 3lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Slow-ground specialist who won twice over 2m3f (once here) in February 2025; should be fine over this trip but is yet to strike form this season (three runs; bled last time) and there may not be enough rain for him today.

40/1

9

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:20 Chepstow

Richardson

10st 12lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Slow-ground specialist who won this race in 2025 (soft ground) and followed up at Bangor (2m3f, heavy) 17 days later; returned from layoff with two lesser efforts this season but still considered; usually held up in rear.

7/1

5th

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

16:18 Uttoxeter

Richardson

10st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Belinda Clarke

Veteran campaigner with a C&D win to his name; goes well on soft/heavy ground and won at Chepstow and Bangor this time last year; probably needed run when last of five at Leicester on reappearance; more solid than most.

11/2

10/1

Form: 6763U5

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Remains a maiden (mostly on the Flat) but would surely have put that right had he not unseated at the last when about 6l to the good over C&D (heavy) in January; disappointing that he didn't fare better the following week at Huntingdon but perhaps that came too soon; now 3lb higher but could easily go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:00 Chepstow

Crossbeau

11st 3lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Made light of a lengthy absence when winning over C&D (good to soft; made most) from Locked Down Lad and Highbury Hill in November but he couldn't repeat the form at Fontwell (about 2m1f, heavy; has form on that surface) last month; well worth another chance back over C&D.

7/1

7th

5

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

17:10 Market Rasen

Crossbeau

11st 3lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

19-race maiden and not progressing but hasn't run badly in 2m4f handicaps at Ffos Las the last twice in races won by a progressive horse.

7/1

4th

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Crossbeau

10st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

18-race maiden under both codes; had no answer to Jasmin De Grugy over C&D 23 days ago and there are others to worry about.

7/1

Form: 47P13 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Came clear to win 2m novice here on heavy in January but was beaten 10l into third on his switch to handicaps at Sandown (2m4f, soft; 22-1; could have jumped better); down 2lb and this might be a tad easier.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:37 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Rebecca Curtis

Cheekpieces back on for his last three races and competitive in two of those, over 2m4f and 3m; however, his profile is notoriously inconsistent and softer ground would be preferable.

12/1

3rd

4

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Valens Bruyee

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Returned to form and ran big race in defeat when back over hurdles in refitted cheekpieces at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) in December but was quickly back in the doldrums last month and now has it all to prove again.

16/1

8

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

midfield on outer, lost ground and towards rear 7th, pushed along when not fluent 4 out

6/1

Form: 2-6634

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Placed in two French bumpers; still early days with Venetia Williams and probably wasn't helped by his track position when a remote fourth behind Lady Balko on handicap debut at Leicester (2m4f, soft; 7-1); ran better than the losing margin suggests that day and he's considered.
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

Form: 1-6P97 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 10st 6lb

11 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped if going back far enough but she's struggled over hurdles and fences since returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines; others are far more likely winners of this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Reine Fee

11st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Gary Brown

in rear, going easily when headway before 4 out

33/1

3rd

5

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Reine Fee

11st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Gary Brown

in rear, going easily when headway before 4 out

33/1

7th

6

21st Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:50 Chepstow

Reine Fee

10st 6lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Gary Brown

took keen hold, always behind

33/1

Non-runners

Parsons Stone

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £33.60
Straight Forecast £24.84
Tricast £227.71
Trifecta £237.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lady Balko

POSTDATA:

Crossbeau

SPOTLIGHT:

Jo Lescribaa

Daily Mirror:

Valens Bruyee

WEST COUNTRY:

Lady Balko

The Times:

Lady Balko

Telegraph:

Lady Balko

The Guardian:

Lady Balko

Daily Mail:

Lady Balko

D Express:

Lady Balko

The Sun:

Lady Balko

Daily Record:

Lady Balko

The Star:

Crossbeau