Racing returns to Chepstow for the first time in 2022 as they host an eight-race card this afternoon.
They get underway from 12.05pm-3.50pm and ground conditions are set to be ‘heavy.
You can watch all the action – alongside every race in the UK and Ireland – via live streaming when logged into MansionBet and our tipster has a race-by-race preview of today’s Chepstow card.
12.05 – Cazoo Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Last-time-out winners Lady Tremaine and Astra Via command a good chunk of respect in the Chepstow opener for Donald McCain and Evan Williams respectively, but a chance is afforded instead to David Pipe’s HEURE DE GLOIRE.
She was a winner of her only hurdles start in France and chased home a next-time-out winner on British bow at Huntingdon in March in a juvenile hurdle. Both starts this season have been in classier races than this one – against males – and perhaps the handicapper has taken a chance in easing her 4lb ahead of this assignment against her own sex.
Selection: Heure De Gloire @ 12/1
12.40 – Play Coral Racing Super Series For Free Maiden Hurdle Division 1 (2m)
Anthony Honeyball will have been delighted with last month’s course bumper win from MARCO ISLAND. He wasn’t overly strong in the betting and he was niggled along at a stage but, once the penny dropped, he came through with his challenge and won decisively in the end. Aidan Coleman gets the leg up for this hurdles bow and they are key players.
Selection: Marco Island @ 3/1
1.10 – Play Coral Racing Super Series For Free Maiden Hurdle Division 2 (2m)
Another decent chance for the Honeyball team here with hurdling debutant Hatos, one to note in the betting for sure, but DRENAGH showed plenty to work on at Bangor in December despite an absence of more than two years ahead of that hurdles bow. He was closing at the line and, if he builds on that, looks to have a leading chance of going one better.
Selection: Drenagh @ 5/2
1.40 – Visit Irish Store Sales With ITM Novices’ Chase (2m7½f)
This looked something of a match on paper before the defection of Barnaviddaun, who ran yesterday at Ffos Las, and that surely paves the way for ASK A HONEY BEE to collect. Fergal O’Brien’s charge has finished second in both chase starts thus far, including behind subsequent Grade 2 novice winner Threeunderthrufive last time, and a clear round will surely see him on the scoresheet now.
Selection: Ask A Honey Bee @ 1/11
2.15 – Happy Retirement Dai Burchell Novices’ Hurdle (2m3½f)
The market should speak to the chances of jumping newcomers Helios De Grugy, Mahon Point and Sam’s The Man, while rules debutant Crossing Lines is one to note for the David Pipe team despite a long absence. DOM OF MARY shaped with promise under a considerate ride in last month’s hurdles bow at Newbury and could be one to step forward here for the David Bridgewater team.
Selection: Dom Of Mary @ 13/8
2.50 – Cazoo Handicap Chase (2m)
GALOP DE CHASSE was making his debut for Venetia Williams at Lingfield (2m, heavy) last month after a year out and while he took a bit of winding up, he eventually forged clear to justify favouritism in good style. The handicapper has put him up 7lb for that score but, with no fears on the ground, it would be dangerous to overlook him with improvement anticipated here.
Selection: Galop De Chasse @ 2/1
3.20 – Peter Michael Dixon Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)
Nick Williams saw HELIOS ALLEN scoring over C&D (soft) in early November and he essentially built on that with a solid Exeter third last month, form franked by the front pair scoring again since. A return to softer ground and back around this venue should give him a fine chance of notching his second hurdles win of the winter.
Selection: Helios Allen @ 9/4
3.50 – Coral Fail To Finish Free Bets Handicap Chase (2m3½f)
A tough finale on the card. Jonjo O’Neill’s Destin D’ajonc won over C&D 11 months ago and should be sharper for last month’s Uttoxeter return – his first start after a wind op. He’s noted alongside Gemirande for Venetia Williams, who was second at Southwell in December on first start of the season and has plenty scope for better as a chaser after two runs. MOUSEINTHEHOUSE made a pleasing return at Ffos Las in November (third) and though he didn’t build on that over C&D (good to soft) last month, both previous successes have come on heavy ground and he might just have a leading say now for Evan Williams with conditions in his favour.
Selection: Mouseinthehouse @ 8/1
*All odds correct at time of writing.