January 05 / 14.20 Chepstow

14.20

Soft

5th April Chepstow Grand National Raceday Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 2m 3f 98y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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5th April Chepstow Grand National Raceday Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

Form: 21/2-3

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Opened chasing account in valuable series final at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in April 2023 and made quite pleasing return from long layoff when third at Windsor (3m, good to soft) last month; not sure to benefit from today's drop back in trip but remains on a workable mark; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

4m 0f 218y

Class 4

19:25 Warwick

Jefferys Cross

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Beaten under 1l in this race last year (Myth Buster pulled up); won't mind the move from Cheltenham given his strong body of work around sharp tracks (including 2-2 in hurdles races here, albeit losing one for interference), and nice break since hard-fought Newbury win; ground fine.

Evs

1st

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

17:16 Newbury

Jefferys Cross

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Has a solid record in hunter chases and he chased home last week's Cheltenham hero Barton Snow (did win by 12l) before making light work of Java Point at Southwell (3m, soft; cheekpieces returned); in the mix.

9/2

1st

4

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:15 Southwell

Jefferys Cross

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Consistent sort whose record in hunter chases (3m-4m) reads 1232; beaten by main market rival at Ludlow returned to this sphere last time (treated for post-race ataxia); solid and leading claims.

5/4

Form: 11P-02 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner last season (albeit finished alone on latter occasion) and bounced back from disappointing reappearance run when second in veterans' race at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) last month; can make presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Thor De Cerisy

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

raced in last but in touch with leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out

8/1

4th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Thor De Cerisy

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

raced in last but in touch with leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out

8/1

3rd

4

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:15 Chepstow

Thor De Cerisy

11st 3lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway and went second before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, not fluent last, weakened and lost second run-in

7/1

Form: 13P-2P D

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won twice last season (3m/2m7f) and was creditable second over C&D (good to soft) when back in action in November; major player if judged on that performance but struggled at Exeter last month and is not one to rely upon heavily.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Enjoy Your Life

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

6lb lower than for November's second over 2m3.5f here (good to soft), but beaten 27l and 56l despite making the podium the last twice; enough to prove right now and probably wouldn't want a dryout, either.

14/1

6th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Enjoy Your Life

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

6lb lower than for November's second over 2m3.5f here (good to soft), but beaten 27l and 56l despite making the podium the last twice; enough to prove right now and probably wouldn't want a dryout, either.

14/1

2nd

5

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

16:20 Wincanton

Enjoy Your Life

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won twice last season and is below his last winning mark; reappeared with encouraging second at Chepstow in November but two lesser runs have followed and he needs to get back on track.

5/1

Form: 50-613 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on best hurdling form and comfortably exploited excellent opportunity in three-runner beginners' chase at Exeter (2m3f, good) in November, but looked very laboured when remote third in Wincanton handicap chase (2m4f, good to soft) last month and now sports blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Gyenyame

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

On a losing run but he's proving a consistent sort and came in a good second of eight in 3m1f handicap chase at Wincanton 19 days ago; he's firmly in the picture again off an unchanged mark.

3/1

2nd

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Gyenyame

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Sole win since taking a 2m4f maiden hurdle on this card in 2023 came in a weak three-runner beginners' chase; respected on the form of November's Exeter 0-130 second (3m, good), however, with a tough task at the weights and (latest) desperate ground viable excuses either side of that.

6/1

3rd

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Gyenyame

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Seemingly aided by blinkers when runner-up in two Class 4 handicap chases at Taunton (2m5f/2m7f) in February/March but can't be recommended in this company.

20/1

Form: 396-36

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but gave a very good account when third in 18-runner handicap here (2m3f, good to soft) in November and has some Irish pointing experience to call upon on this chasing debut; tongue-tie added; could be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Worcester

Captain Boudet

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Led but didn't over-race in the first-time visor on this month's stable debut here (good), the 2m7f trip appearing more the issue; 3f drop all to the good, likewise a mark back below his last winning one.

7/1

6th

3

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:20 Worcester

Captain Boudet

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Won over 2m3f at Exeter off 1lb lower in March 2025; inconsistent in five starts last season for Jeremy Scott, signing off with a fair second back at Exeter two and a half months ago; has changed hands since and goes back up in trip on stable debut with a visor added; on a good mark if able to put his best foot forward.

7/1

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

15:30 Exeter

Captain Boudet

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Ended last season with a C&D success in sole chase attempt at Exeter; inconsistent this term but the return to this scenario may have a positive effect.

5/1

Non-runners

Heros De Romay

Verdict

Jeffery’s Cross returned from a long absence with a good effort over 3m last month and could be a tough nut to crack if suited by today’s drop back in trip but it might be worth chancing chase debutant CAPTAIN BOUDET, who ran a game race when placed in a big-field handicap hurdle here two starts ago and still has low mileage. Thor De Cerisy is next on the list.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Thor De Cerisy

TOPSPEED:

Gyenyame

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Boudet

Telegraph:

Jeffery's Cross

The Times:

Heros De Romay

The Star:

Captain Boudet

The Sun:

Jeffery's Cross

WEST COUNTRY:

Gyenyame

Daily Record:

Gyenyame

POSTDATA:

Thor De Cerisy

D Express:

Thor De Cerisy

Daily Mirror:

Thor De Cerisy