January 05 / 13.15 Chepstow

13.15

Soft

22nd February Chepstow Beer&Cider Festival Raceday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 7f 131y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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22nd February Chepstow Beer&Cider Festival Raceday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

OUR TIP

Form: 14 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
£150,000 purchase in February after Irish point win; asserted in clearcut style in 2m7f novice hurdle at Worcester (soft) in October and 11l fourth of six in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago confirmed he has the stamina and plenty of ability; sets the standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out

11/4

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out, went modest fourth run-in

11/4

Form: 1-5831

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won two good-ground points and a heavy-ground Exeter bumper last spring for Leslie Jefford; improved form through his three starts over hurdles, running-on third under 7lb claimer here on second occasion and justifying 11-10 favouritism by a neck in 13-runner race at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on latest; this move up in trip will help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

21st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Warwick

Prophesea

11st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

raced in second, ridden after 3 out, led 2 out, went clear run-in, comfortably

11/4

3rd

1

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Prophesea

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

in touch with leaders

7/1

3rd

1

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Prophesea

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

in touch with leaders

7/1

Form: P

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Failed to complete in his two Irish maiden points and pulled up when 80-1 in a 2m5f Warwick maiden hurdle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

12:25 Warwick

A Force To Reckin

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Chris Honour

prominent

20/1

Form: 74

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £55,000 after his Irish point win last March; made a low-key start over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m1f, heavy) and Ascot (2m5f, good) but faced a very stiff task at 100-1 in the latter and has some ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

1st

3

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Copper Jack

11st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Won a 3m point on heavy; yet to be that competitive under rules but has been running behind some useful horses and this is his handicap debut; had wind surgery and now tries a tongue-tie; possible improver.

10/1

Form: 9-3

Last run: 231 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten 70l in a maiden hurdle here (2m, good) last April and nearly halving the deficit at Stratford (2m6f, good) in May does not greatly boost his claims; the cheekpieces were added last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:50 Stratford

High Joker

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Pulled up in Ffos Las maiden (2m, soft) in January, after a break, but displayed a modicum of promise when third of five (albeit well held) in novice event here (2m6f, good) last spring and, after only three hurdle runs, remains very unexposed; swaps cheekpieces for first-time visor.

10/1

4

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:50 Stratford

High Joker

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Pulled up in Ffos Las maiden (2m, soft) in January, after a break, but displayed a modicum of promise when third of five (albeit well held) in novice event here (2m6f, good) last spring and, after only three hurdle runs, remains very unexposed; swaps cheekpieces for first-time visor.

10/1

6

11th Jan 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

12:42 Ffos Las

High Joker

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Twice-raced 8yo who was a modest third at Stratford (2m6f) when last seen; plenty to find on the figures.

100/1

Form: 9076

Last run: 84 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Heavy defeats in a bumper and three hurdle races; cheekpieces now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Worcester

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Debra Hamer

Still unexposed after only six starts but struggled in two Ffos Las handicap chases this spring (2m5f/3m) and is a long way out of the weights again here.

33/1

7

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Debra Hamer

Unexposed after only five runs but showed no promise in novice/maiden hurdles last year and was pulled up here (2m5f, good) on last month's chase/handicap debut; needs recent wind op to have made a massive difference; 12lb out of the weights.

25/1

7

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Debra Hamer

Unexposed after only five runs but showed no promise in novice/maiden hurdles last year and was pulled up here (2m5f, good) on last month's chase/handicap debut; needs recent wind op to have made a massive difference; 12lb out of the weights.

25/1

Verdict

Clondaw General has done clearly the most thanks to his Worcester win and his fourth in a Cheltenham Grade 2. He has also proved his stamina but PROPHESEA might just improve sufficiently now that he is stepped up in trip. Copper Jack is a clear third on the list.[Richard Austen]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Clondaw General

SPOTLIGHT:

Prophesea

TOPSPEED:

Clondaw General

POSTDATA:

Clondaw General

WEST COUNTRY:

Clondaw General

The Times:

Clondaw General

Telegraph:

Clondaw General

D Express:

Clondaw General

Daily Mirror:

Clondaw General

The Sun:

Clondaw General

The Star:

Prophesea

Daily Record:

Prophesea