There’s a busy afternoon of jumps racing ahead at Chepstow on Monday, with eight races down for decision at the Welsh track.
They are set to race on Soft ground, with the action getting under way at 12.30pm, through until 4.15pm – an early indicator of longer hours of daylight as we move towards spring!
You can watch all the Chepstow action – as well as every race from the UK and Ireland – via live streaming when logged into MansionBet and our tipster has a race-by-race look at Monday’s card.
12.30 – Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle (2m)
Trainer Chris Honour thinks plenty of his mare MAYHEM MYA, a dual bumper winner last season and a respectable fourth in a Listed Cheltenham contest in that sphere in November in her comeback effort.
She was pitched straight into Listed Novices’ company last month at Haydock (2m3f, soft) on hurdles bow and ran well enough to be fourth despite being keen throughout. Her sights are lowered now and this looks a good opening for her.
Selection: Mayhem Mya @ 4/11
1.00 – Go Racing With Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)
Auenwirbel has twice made the frame at Ffos Las and Uttoxeter of late, latterly over this trip, and will handle ease in the ground but the veteran is more exposed than some of these rivals and might again settle for minor money.
Point-to-point winner RED LION LAD showed promise in maiden/novice hurdles last season for David Pipe and, following a wind op, went chasing on last month’s reappearance before unseating since at Ffos Las.
He hasn’t convinced with his jumping, but this 6YO has time on his side and going back over hurdles for a spell looks a wise move for now.
Selection: Red Lion Lad @ 5/1
1.30 – Vickers.Bet Online Maiden Hurdle (2m3½f)
Both Buck’s Boggle and EVERYTHING’SONTICK have finished third over C&D in their hurdling debuts but preference is readily for Lawney Hill’s Scorpion gelding.
His November race was run in a quicker time and the form has worked out well (winner and fourth scored since). Once-raced Warwick bumper winner Hauraki Gulf is one to look out for on hurdles bow.
Selection: Everything’sontick @ 7/2
2.00 – Join The Vickers.Bet Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m3½f)
Cases can be made for all four in this field. Frenchy Du Large and Eden Du Houx are last-time-out winners and have been re-assessed accordingly so perhaps this will be a chance for FARNE to build on last month’s Listed Warwick (2m4f, soft) chasing bow.
Noel Williams’ mare was third behind The Glancing Queen there – form advertised in a Cheltenham Grade 2 on New Year’s Day – and has scope for improvement going handicapping now.
Selection: Farne @ 11/4
2.35 – Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)
West To The Bridge has tumbled 11lb below his last winning mark and showed plenty more at Exeter last month, so the Skelton runner is one to reckon with if building on that effort.
Venetia Williams’ mare BELLATRIXSA won twice over hurdles last spring despite lacking fluency over the obstacles.
She’s unexposed and possibly well-treated off a mark of 118 now. If her technique has improved during the break, she should be the one to beat.
Selection: Bellatrixsa @ 9/4
3.10 – Dunraven Windows Mares’ Handicap Chase (2m7½f)
Barden Bella pulled clear to win at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) on New Year’s Day and should go well again despite incurring an 8lb rise for that success. She’s 3-8 over fences, but hasn’t convinced in previous attempts over this far.
GLORIOUS LADY was a distant second at that same track last month in this grade, no match at all for a wide-margin winner, when racing from 8lb higher.
Perhaps the handicapper has given her an opportunity to build on that now under Tabitha Worsley.
Selection: Glorious Lady @ 17/2
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap Hurdle Division 1 (2m3½f)
Not the most convincing bunch on paper and maybe it’s worth taking a chance on Philip Hobbs’ handicap debutant ADVANTURA to improve.
He was only a modest fourth at Exeter (2m1f, heavy) on New Year’s Day but he’s been given every chance by the assessor off an opening mark of just 87 in what does look a weak contest and it will be a surprise if there isn’t more to come from him.
Selection: Advantura @ 10/3
4.15 – Cazoo Handicap Hurdle Division 1 (2m3½f)
Similar to the penultimate race, Vians Hill is one that could improve switched to handicaps for trainer Evan Williams here.
The mare AMLOVI cut no ice in three chasing starts either side of her summer break but there was more to like in her New Year’s Eve fourth at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) and she does have form at this trip.
She has dipped below her last win-mark and could go close under Ben Poste in an open Chepstow finale.
Selection: Amlovi @ 11/1
*All odds correct at time of writing