Chepstow stages an intriguing seven-race card on Saturday with the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle and the Native river Handicap Chase just two of the highlights
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Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway previews Saturday’s action at Newmarket exclusively for MansionBet.
1.15 Champion Hats Juvenile Hurdle
This appears a race between Magistrato and Rocky Man. Preference is for the Dan Skelton-trained Rocky Man, who won his last start on the Flat in France and will probably have been trained with this race in mind. Skelton will be looking to kick off his title charge with a victory and what better way to do it than at the expense of the Paul Nicholls-trained Magistrato.
Selection: Rocky Man @ 7/2
1.50 Geoffrey Broomhall Memorial Handicap Hurdle
This could be another for Dan and Harry Skelton because high-class chaser Allmankind returns to hurdling off a mark 10lb lower than his chase rating and should take advantage. Allmankind is equally effective over hurdles and was one of the leading juvenile hurdlers in Britain a couple of seasons ago. He should have no problem with the return to this discipline.
Selection: Allmankind @ 11/4
2.25 Native River Handicap Chase
Exelerator Express has won three of his last five starts and took a major step forward when bolting up by 12 lengths in a 2m7f handicap chase at Worcester in August. This progressive chaser has gone up 9lb to a BHA mark of 147, but recorded a Racing Post Rating of 156 that day and could still be a step ahead of the handicapper if that assessment proves right.
Selection: Exelerator Express @ 9/2
3.00 Dunraven Windows Novices’ Chase
It might be worth taking a chance on Tea Clipper making a winning chase debut. The Tom Lacey-trained six-year-old won the Silver Trophy on this card a year ago and ran excellent races when third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and third in a similarly hot race at Aintree. Most of Lacey’s runners make better chasers and Tea Clipper could outclass these if he does.
Selection: Tea Clipper @ 10/3
3.30 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
This can go to Rowland Ward, who showed he is well suited by big-field handicaps like this when landing a hot race that has thrown up plenty of subsequent winners at Aintree in April. He has been beaten twice since, but his fourth in the Swinton at Haydock was a solid effort and he probably needed his return from a break at Market Rasen last time. He can improve.
Selection: Rowland Ward @ 12/1
4.05 John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase
This might be another for Dan Skelton because Not That Fuisse should be spot on for his seasonal reappearance. He runs all his best races fresh and has had wind surgery since his last run. His best form last season included a good fifth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and a close second at Ayr. A reproduction of either run might be good enough.
Selection: Not That Fuisse @ 9/2
4.40 Nigel & Sharon Support Injured Jockeys Fund Open NH Flat Race
It’ll be a major surprise if Timeforatune doesn’t get the job done here. He was impressive when winning a bumper at Ffos Las in May and has since been bought for £175,000 by John Hales. The owner doesn’t get it wrong too often at the sales and Timeforatune should win.
Selection: Timeforatune @ 4/11
*All odds correct at time of writing.