Rehearsal chase day 2000

2000

The Full Runner Preview

The Welsh National has slightly changed it's name to The Coral Eurobet Welsh National this year and will be held on the 27th of December.
Once again this year the weather has been very bad as it has all over the country and the expected going is again heavy.

Here is a full preview of all the 26 runners of course on the day there may be one or two less:-

Young Kenny 9:12:0

Young Kenny is one of our best long distance chasers; This 9 yr old bay gelding is a very good jumper and loves extreme distances. He also loves a soft surface so should have everything in his favour on the day except he will be asked to carry 12st and although he has carried this weight to victory just last month in the Becher chase no horse has won the Welsh National carrying this weight. He is a midlands and Scottish National winner and therefore has done all this before and despite top weight should not be left out of any reckoning.
Recent form First time out this season in October he was 3rd of four to the best chaser in the country See More Business and although only 3rd was reported to be not as forward as the other horses in the race. Next time out he was a very impressive winner at Aintree in the Becher chase where he had Flaked Oats and Ardent scout who reoppose today behind him
Past form A winner of 11 of his 35 starts has won at Chepstow before, and usually wins carrying more than 11st ( 10 times) ran badly in this race last year and connections did not find out why.
Points for: Top Class, going, distance, and good recent form
Points against: 12st top weight, poor performance last year.
Young Kenny is trained by P.Beaumont.

King's Road 7:11:8

This 7yr old Bay gelding was quite a useful hurdler and is turning into a good young chaser now but looked as if this was not going to be the case on his chasing debut at Chepstow this time last year, he never got into that novice chase jumped poorly and looked well out of sorts finishing a well beaten favourite. He has come on since then winning 50% of his 6 chasing starts indeed his only other poor race was in the Royal and Sun Alliance at the festival in March. A nice horse who is on the upgrade and looks as if he could be the type to win this sort of race if he puts his best foot forward but will he? given his two poor showings you must take the risk that he will. He tends not to jump very well which must also be a slight worry but that said he has never fallen in a race. A good chance and another who should be considered in a short list.
Recent form: First time out this year he was second behind Flaked Oats giving him a stone and 2lbs today he has to give him 3lbs more. On his second start won very well at Newbury he jumped well on this occasion and never put a foot wrong, he had some classy animals behind that day along with Zaggy lane who opposes again today. A reproduction of this form would be very exciting. Last time out was second to Bobby Grant at Haydock and ran well again making no jumping errors.
Past form : A winner of 9 of his 18 races and only twice out of the first four his wins have come on good to heavy ground, He has carried 12st 3lbs to victory and has won over 3m 2f did not go well when tried in blinkers.
Points for: Looks to be on the upgrade, consistent " in the frame finisher " Ground. Recent form.
Points against: has made jumping errors,
King's Road is trained by N.T.Davies.

Suny Bay 11:11:7

This twice second in the grand national grey gelding has some real class in his past for, he is a winner of the Hennessey at Newbury, a winner of the Tommy Whittle at Haydock, Twice winner of the Edward Hanmer chase, and who was all in all a first class chaser, however last season he looked a shadow of his former self running poorly in all his 3 starts. He defiantly looked as if he was on the downgrade and it would be very good to see him run well in this race but he certainly will not have to improve to do well here but simply recapture some of his past form but at 11 I think it may be asking a little too much of him to win here.
Recent form :This will be his first run of the season.
Past form : A winner if 11 of his 26 starts and some of those victories in high-class races. A Generally good flamboyant jumper who has only ever fallen once and another grey that likes to front run. Has won on going from good to heavy and has won at distances up to 3m4f. And has carried 11st 10 to victory.
Points for: Once a top class chaser, Ground and Distance.
Points against: First run after a poor season last year, possibly on the downgrade.
Suny bay is trained by A.M.Hales

Good Lord Murphy 8:11:6

Another young horse this 8 yr old Brown gelding is another who can be put into the improving category, and has shown his best improvement since taking to chasing last year. He has won three of his five chases but his best performance was when 2nd behind the very smart Beau over three miles and half a furlong, he was slightly out of the race but came back to the leader at the end of the race and it looked as if he needed further, however it might have been that the ground was a little quicker than he likes and next time out on softer ground over the same trip he won well and again looked as if a step up in trip would suit. It would not be a big surprise if this horse won today.
Recent form: A winner on his only start this season with A.P.McCoy at Ascot.
Past Form: A winner of 6 of his 17 starts on ground good to heavy and up to a distance of 3m1f and has won with 11st 12lbs.
Points for: Improving type, going.
Points against: Untried at Distance
Good Lord Murphy is trained by P.Hobbs.

Escartefigue 8:11:5

This 8 yrs old bay gelding seems to have been around for a long time, he has run 30 time and was very good in his novice days but has not quite reached the potential that he might have. He is a horse who runs in good quality company but doesn't quite win in this class but makes the frame often. His last win was at Aintree in April 98 and therefore he seems to have got out of the " winning habit ". Escartefigue had a poor season lat year only making the frame once and also being pulled up and UR once. He still has the time to fulfil his expectations but you would have to see him running in form and winning again to bet him with confidence.
Recent form : Very disappointing 6th behind Royal Tommy earlier this month at Chepstow.
Past form :a winner of 6 of his 31 starts to date on ground good to heavy and up to a distance of 3m1f. Has carried 11st 13 to victory.
Points for. : Ground
Points against :Poor recent form, Unproven at distance.
Escartefigue is trained by P.Nicholls.

Strong Tel 10:11:2

A good 10 yr old Bay gelding Strong Tel has good form in the past and the end of the 98/99 season run up a string of victories and carried on last season winning the first two of his three starts but he unseated his rider on his last start of the season back in January and was not seen again until his first outing this season last month at Newbury where he was 7th to King's Road. He has progressed in the last two seasons and it is unlikely that he has too much more to come. His trainer M.Pipe has a great record in the Welsh National so you would be foolish to leave this one without any consideration and he looks the type to win a good class long distance chase.
Recent form: Finished last (8th) and well beaten in his only start this season and that was at Cheltenham in the Hessnssy.
Past Form: a winner of 7 of his 24 starts. Likes good to firm to soft ground. Has won over 3m 2f and has carried 12st 6lbs to victory.
Points for: Likes left handed tracks
Points Against: recent for has gone off the boil. Ground?
Strong Tel is trained by M.Pipe

Edmond 8:10:10

Last years winner this 8 yr old bay gelding is top class and is something of a Chepstow specialist having only lost once at the track in 6 runnings where he completed and that was on his last occasion earlier this month. He did fall once at the track and this has been a worry for Edmond in the past however his trainer H.Daly seems to have got to the bottom of this and since then the horse has run and won very well. At 8 yrs old there could still be some improvement to come in him and a repeat win could well be on the cards given that his first run this season at Cheltenham was very ordinary but his last run at Chepstow was considerably better when 3rd behind the probable favourite today Moral Support giving him 7lbs, he will have to give him 6lbs today but the increase in trip today may bring them closer together. He only ran 1 bad race last year when being pulled up in the Irish national where the ground was not in his favour as he must have very soft ground to show anything. He is sure to give a good account of himself today as the trip and ground and course are in his favour, however you have to go back to 1988 and 1989 for the last horse to win twice.
Recent form: first time out this season he was very flat in running and finished 9th of 13. Second time out was much improved but tired towards the end of the race at Chepstow on the 2nd of December on both occasions was not allowed to front run and dominate the race.
Past form: Winner of 9 of his 17 starts on going good /soft to heavy at distances up to 3m5f and has carried 12 st to victory.
Points for: Going. Course. Distance.
Points against: recent form below last years.
Edmond is trained by H.Daly.

Jocks Cross 9:10:7

This 9 yr old Chestnut gelding has some good form and is another who may have a little improvement in him to come. He has some good wins under his belt and if he can run up to his top form then he could run well here and this class of race is within his scope. The worry would be that in three of his last 6 races he ha finished U/R or P/U that said his two last best runs both came at Chepstow when he won a 10,000 pound event in march and ran a creditable second, staying on earlier this month behind Moral Support in the John Hughes. In this race he will have to give moral support 1lb less and he should improve for the run even if the winner was easing down this race is 5 furlongs further. Jocks Cross seems to be running into form at the right time and would not be an unexpected winner.
Recent form: First time out he was a distant 6th of 8 but was giving almost stone to the other runners and also made a bad blunder early in the race so this performance can be forgiven. Second time out a good second to Moral Support at Chepstow on the 2nd of this month.
Past form; A winner of 10 of his 31 races over distances up to 3m2f and favours good to heavy ground and has carried 12 st to victory in the past.
Jocks Cross is trained by V.Williams.

Browjoshy 7:10:6

This 7 yr old bay gelding also could be a progressive sort but would have to show considerable improvement to win this race. His connections obviously think he is a good horse as he has run in the Royal Sun Alliance at the Cheltenham Festival and also ran in the Scottish National. But was pulled up in the latter but was fifth in the former. Not with out a chance from a shrewd stable.
Recent form: Finished third first time out this season at Cheltenham and that was an improvement on his previous form but was pulled up when after being taken on in his only other start this season.
Past Form: A winner of 3 of his 20 starts on going from gd/sft to soft has won over 3m2f and has carried 11st 6lbs to victory
Points for: May be improving, Ground,
Points against: poor strike rate. Pu last time out.
Browjoshy is trained by M.Pitman

Dom Samourai 9:10:6

This 9 yr old grey gelding is one of my favourite horses but has not been seen out since March 99, and has not won a race since Nov 98. He went very badly wrong and seemed to loose all interest in his last few races however he has got bits of good form his best performance was probably at Chepstow in December 1998 when he made See More Business pull out all the stops to beat him by only one and a quarter lths and has Escartefigue 8 lths behind him. It's difficult to believe he is still only 9, as he seems to have been around a long time. He runs in blinkers and is effective in them. I would be surprised, pleasantly surprised it must be said it he could come to this marathon without a run for 652 days an run into a place. He loves heavy ground and Chepstow and also long distances and has won 1st time out.
Recent form: First run this season (with last season off)
Past Form: he is a winner of 4 of his 19 races acts on good to heavy best on heavy has won at distances up to 3.m4f and has carried 12st to victory.
Points for: ground, going distance and course
Points against: long lay off, last 4 runs poor and not a prolific winner.
Dom Samourai is trained byT.R.George.

Moondigua 8:10:6

A nice 8 yr old bay gelding but on evidence so far looks a little below this class but he is trained by M.Pipe and he has a way with horses making them improve significantly. He has run in some competitive races last season but was found wanting in them. He tried a run in the Scottish National and was pulled up although he has won a 3m1f race so the distance of this race is still open to question. He does tend to make a few mistakes at his fences and has fallen twice in his 19 races.
Recent form: Ran poorly on his only outing this year when 7th of 13 at Cheltenham when joint fav but he was carrying 11st 13lbs.
Past form: A winner of 8 of his 18 races over distances up to 3m.2f on ground good to heavy and has carried 12st to victory.
Points for: Ground, Course and still may be open to improvement.
Points against: Trip? , Jumping.
Moondigua is trained by M.Pipe.

You Re Agoodun 8:10:6

This horse is a novice chaser who has done well this year in 2 small events at Hereford but when stepped up in class to a grade b chase was found wanting. Another by M.Pipe. And could be anything but on chasing form up to now looks a little out of his depth, that said he was a useful hurdler.
Recent form: First run was his first attempt t fences and won very well and then followed up at the same track in the same manner but on last outing was only 4th of 9 and looked well beaten.
Past form: A winner of 5 of his 23 starts has work blinkers effectively over a distance up to 3m1f and likes ground good to soft and has carried 11st 7 to victory.
Point for: still may have improvement to come
Points against: has not done well in this class of chase before.
You Re Agoodun is trained by M.Pipe

Kaki Crazy 5:10:5

A six times hurdle winner in France this 5yr old import by M.Pipe. Is the unknown quantity in this race? He has only run once in this country and that was last month at Cheltenham where he came 4th and had Edmond, Kendal Cavalier and Zaggy Lane in behind him. His jumping was not foot perfect but it was nevertheless a good run from him. He will still have some improvement in him as he is only 5yrs old and could actually by the best of his trainers 4 entries and will love the soft ground, as all the French imports seem to. He would have to improve to win this but could be a live candidate.
Recent form: One run at Cheltenham 4th of 13.
Past form: (France only) a winner of 6 of his 10 starts on good to heavy ground and has carried 10st12lbs to victory.
Points for: Young and improving, Ground.
Points Against: only one previous British chase.
Kaki Crazy is trained by M.Pipe.

Papo Kharisma 10:10:5

This 10-year-old bay gelding is another who likes the soft ground. He was a very good long distance hurdler who was perhaps a bit late coming to chases. Last year be beat the very smart Lord Noelie at Exeter which seems to be Papo Kharisma's favourite course. This victory was overturned later in the year at Newbury where he made quite a few mistakes, and he has a tendency to throw away his races by these mistakes but with a clear round he may be there or thereabouts.
Recent form: One race this season in Nov when 3rd of seven behind Moral Support (Again made a bad mistake)
Past form: A winner of 9 of his only 24 starts on ground ranging from good to heavy and a maximum distance of 3m1f and has carried 11st 12 to victory.
Points for: Good class when hurdling, ground
Points Against: Makes jumping errors.
Papo Kharisma is trained by P.Hobbs

Moral Support 8:10:4

An Irish import who had only won 2 of his 15 previous stars when brought to this country, however this 8 yr old chestnut gelding has won all four of his races since joining Charlie Mann's stable this season including a very impressive course win at Chepstow earlier this month. That day he had Edmond, Jocks Cross and Atavistic, all behind and well beaten he was even pulling up at the finish. Although the race was 23seconds slower than the standard the very heavy ground that day proved that this was a good time for that ground. He is going from strength to strength and is a worthy favourite for the race; especially as in the past that race the Rehearsal chase has been a good pointer to the winner of the Welsh National. He has been due to run 3 times since that race and condition were such that he did not race I think that is also on his favour he is the one they all have to beat today. He has broken blood vessels in the past but there has been no recent evidence of this and he loves soft ground.
Recent form: Four wins from four starts this year Nov 1st at Kempton a good win by 7 lengths 8th Nov 11 lth win at Newbury 18 th of Nov A winner at Huntington and then 2dn Dec Winner at Chepstow.
Past form: A winner of 6 of his 19 starts in ground ranging from good/soft to heavy over a trip up to 3m6f and has carried 11st 11 to victory.
Points for: course distance going
Points against: Up in class, four runs already this season.
Moral support is trained by C.J.Mann

Atavistic 8:10:3

A lovely 8 yr old bay gelding from the minehead training home of P Hobbs this one and a good horse but is another who is perhaps below this class of race. He has had jumping problems in the past and would have to improve that as well as his form to win this race.
Recent form: 3rd of seven in a 7,00o pound race at Chepstow and then 5th of 10 at Chepstow.
Past form: A winner of 8 of his 20 races on going of good to heavy and at a distance of 3m3f and has carried 11st 7 to victory.
Points for: Ground Distance?
Points Against: Has only won up to a grade c race, makes jumping errors.
Atavistic is trained by P.Hobbs.

Flaked Oats 11:10:3

A lightly raced 11 yr old bay gelding this who on his best form when winning the badger brewery chase would have chance here, but he is not a prolific winner and will not have any improvement in him now, but may not have to. He beat King's Road that day but was behind Young Kenny in the Becher chase a little later where he made a few errors.
Recent form: First time out this season he was a 3rd of 13 behind Torduff Express at Exeter and then made a winning appearance at Wincanton only then to make mistakes and finish 5th of 11 at Aintree.
Past form: A winner of 5 of his 24 starts t distances up to 3m2f and on going from good to soft. And has carried 11st 10 to victory.
Flaked oats is trained by P.F.Nichols.

Juyush 8:10:3

This 8 yr old bay gelding was quite a smart long distance hurdler and when sent chasing looks as if he could turn into a good chaser as well. The chasing game came to him, as he is probably too high in the handicap now to win many as a hurdler. Seemed to be doing quite well wining two of his chases last year and also coming second in three more. He is a good sound horse and as a second season chaser could come on even more but he was found lacking earlier this month in the John Hughes where he was beaten by royal Tommy on that occasion and looks to have a hard task to overturn that form.
Recent form: Started the year over hurdles and in a big race at Cheltenham and despite giving weight all round finished a very poor 10th of 12. Next Time out was at Chepstow in the Jack brown where he was pulled up
Past form: a Winner of 11 of his 37 races over trips up to 3.m2f including 4 flat wins acts on all types of going and has carried 11st 10 lbs to victory
Points for: Ground
Points against: poor recent form
Juyush is trained by P.F.Nichols

Ambleside 9:10:1

This 9 yr old bay gelding is a horse who has progressed through being a good hurdler to a good chaser and now looks to be making up into a good long distance chaser. He may not be a prolific winner but he makes the frame very often and is sound and very genuine type of horse. Whether he has the class to win a race of this calibre will soon be known but is one horse who if you bet you will certainly get a run for your money, and it would be good for this type of horse to win a big race and I'm sure he will win one I'm just not sure if this is the one, but again looks good to make the frame.
Recent form: First time out only third but giving the best part of 2st to the first two. Second time out a good fourth to Moral support at Chepstow at the start of the month.
Past form: A winner of 8 of his 38 starts over distances up to 3m2f and on goings from good to heavy and has won carrying 11st 13 lbs.
Points for: Course (Loves Chepstow), ground and genuine type
Points Against: Poor strike rate.
Ambleside is trained by Mrs S.D.Williams

Torduff Express 9:10:1

This 9 yr old bay gelding last time out wore blinkers for the first time and ran a very creditable second to the very smart Marlborough over 3m1f at Cheltenham. He is a good sort and one who did not go hurdling until this his ninth season and won the first of his two tries at it. This looks as if it may have sharpened him up a bit and that with the blinkers means he is running into form at the right time. He is a horse who has been running in good quality races and ran in last years Grand national but fell. He has the class to win here but I feel he needs thing to go right for him but with a bit of luck who knows?
Recent form: First two outings this season were over hurdles where he finished 1st and then 5th of 8 next time out was at Cheltenham where he finished 6th of 13 behind Supreme Charm on his latest outing was fitted with blinkers at Cheltenham and finished a very good 2nd to Marlborough.
Past form: A winner of 6 of his 18 races on ground ranging from good to gd/soft and has carried 11st 5lbs to victory.
Points for: recent form
Points against : not prolific winner, ground?
Torduff express is trained by P.F.Nichols.

Ardent Scout 8:10:0

This 8 yr old bay gelding shows his best when there is a test of stamina over long distances and where the ground is soft. A dour stayer who looks the right type for this type of race at this time of year. His recent form is good and has good prospects of running into a place at least from the bottom of the handicap and carrying only 10 st.
Recent form: First time out won a 3m1f event at Ayr where he jumped very well (as you would expect from Sue and Harvey smiths stable) Second time out this season came a very good second to Young Kenny at Aintree only 8 days later, Last time out was put over hurdles to sharpen him up and came third in a race too short for him where he was probably not expected to even get that close.
Past form: A winner of 6 from his 27 races over distances up to 3m1f and on ground from good to heavy.
Points for: Good recent form, still on upgrade, Going
Points against: Three races in the last 8 weeks
Ardent Scout is trained by S.J.Smith

Choisty 10:10:0

This is a real long distance chaser, a chestnut gelding who has never won a race at a distance of less than 3 miles. A regular in The Grand National in April but is yet to get round from three attempts. He is a good chaser although he does make jumping errors. His best performance so far was when winning the Warwick National in January. Not without a chance of making the frame but at 10 we have probably seen his best form and it may not be good enough to win this event. Ran in this race two years ago and refused. All his winning has also come in January or later.
Recent form: This will be first time out this season
Past Form: A winner of 6 from 28 starts over distances up to 3m5f and with the going ranging from good to soft.
Points for: last run of last season was his best win
Points Against: Has never won before January, Going?
Choisty is trained by H.E.Haynes.

Spanish Main 6:10:0 (Handicap mark 9st13lbs)

This 6 yr old bay gelding is a good staying type of horse who finished last season with a good hat trick of wins at Ascot Fontwell and Cheltenham. Looks a progressive sort of horse but also a little below this class if his recent form is anything to go by. It is also asking a lot of a novice to take on this type of race.
Recent form: First run of this season was his first chase and did well to win beating six rivals at Exeter. Next three runs all at Cheltenham all in the same sort of race and all third places.
Past form: A winner of 5 of his 14 races so far on ground from good to gd/soft and at distances of up to 3m3f Has won carrying 12 st.
Points for: still a bit of an unknown
Points against: looks below this class, ground?
Spanish main is trained by N.T.Davies

Montroe 8:10:0 (Handicap weight 9:11)

This Grey gelding looks as if he could be getting a little better now with age and this would not be a surprise as he is out of Roselier and all his progeny seem to only get started at about 7 or 8 yrs of age. This horse broke his pelvis two seasons ago and looks now as if he is well over this injury. He is another with nice bits of form but does not quite look as if he is up to this class yet.
Recent form: First race of the season at Chepstow he was a very remote 5th of seven Next time out at Cheltenham was 7th of 13 29l behind the winner and on his last outing also at Cheltenham was a good third behind Marlborough and Torduff express.
Past form: A winner of 7 of his 26 starts on going ranging from good to heavy and at distances up to 3m2f and has carried 11st 10 to victory.
Points for: looks to be running into a bit of form
Points against: looks below this class.
Montroe is trained by R.Rowe

Royal Tommy 8:10:0 9 Handicap weight 9: 11)

This 8 yr old bay gelding looks as if he could be destined for the top. He has never finished out of the first two in any race he has finished. He looks the right type for this race and his win at Chepstow last time out was not an easy as Moral Supports win but he was hampered at the last by a falling horse and I think did well to win the way he did. On that occasion the ground was heavy and he like Moral Support both show they can handle the course as well as the going. He has won over 3m6f and therefore should also get the trip. He is 3 lbs out of the handicap but I would not let that be too much of a worry.
Recent form: First time out was pulled up ay Haydock in November on the next occasion he ran he won very well at Chepstow in the Jack Brown Bookmakers Chase.
Past form: A winner of 5 of his 12 starts at distances up to 3m6f and on gd/soft to heavy. He has carried 11st 9 to victory.
Points for: course going, distance and recent form
Points Against: as pulled up 4 times in career: out of the handicap
Royal Tommy is trained by R.H.Buckler

Radiation. 7:9:10

Another who is improving this 7 yr old chestnut gelding peaked at the end of last season by winning a good race at the Aintree meeting. He has suffered from a wind problem in the past and this would be a worry in what will be very testing conditions in this race. A bit of an unknown but his trainer is very shroud with the placement of his horses and can't by ignored completely.
Recent form: 1st time out this season he unseated rider at Kelso and then was only a poor 4th of seven at Doncaster n the 9th of December.
Past form: A winner of 6 from 18 starts on ground ranging from good to heavy and at distances up to 3m2f and has won carrying 11st 10 lbs.
Points for: May be better than basic form
Points against: Poor recent form: wind problem
Radiation is trained by J.J.O'Neil.

Here is my summing up of this years Welsh National.

This could turn out to be one of the most competitive races for some time, there are however some rules we could make for this race going on the form of the last 10 years (please note I have excluded the win by Master oats as the race was held at Newbury) Here is a list of the few simple rules: -
1) All but 1 were aged 7 8 or 9 (riverside boy at 10 was the example)-
2) All were previous winners at Chepstow-
3) All had won races at 3m or more-
4) All had run within 30 days of the race-
5) The average weight carried was 10st 6lbs but 4 of the 7 winners carried 10 st.-
If you followed these rule then you will be down to only 5 of the 20 runners and I am going to concentrate on those horses for the purpose of this exercise I will exclude the weight concession in 5 but will take this into account. -
1. Kings Road: -
A Nice horse this who can run in and out as his runs this year have shown. He made jumping errors in his first outing and was second to Flaked oats who is well down the weights here today and is slightly better off at the weights. He did jump better on his next two outing and finished 1st in the Hennessy at Newbury and then 2nd on his only other start. He needs a strong test of stamina to prove his best and will get that here. I would eliminate him from my reckoning because A) he has 11st 8lbs and the only two horses in the last 10 yrs to carry 11st+ were Earth Summit who was an exceptional long distance chaser and Carvill's Hill who was getting there before his early retirement, I don't think Kings road will turn out to be as good as them unless he improves more. -
2. Edmond: -
A lovely top class horse this who seems to be running into form at the right time. He has only got 10 st 10 lbs in this race and as a past winner who has done nothing wrong I think this is a good weight for him to carry. He will have everything in his favour this year as he did last year and he will be reunited with the winning jockey from last year. His 10 st 10 lbs is a little bit more than I would like to see and well as that past winners do not have a great record in this race. Last years the 98 winner Kendal Cavalier finished a distant 5th,In 98 the 97 winner Earth summit finished PU and then1990 winner Cool Ground finished pulled up in 91. So the stats are not that good only 2 have ever won the race more that once Bonanza Boy in 88/89 and then Limonali in 59 and 61 -
3. Jocks Cross -
A good horse this and with 10st 7lbs getting closer to the right weight for this race especially as the jockey will take a further 3lbs of his back, however claimers have not have a great run in this race the last to win was 1981. Has ran well at Chepstow and will love the ground. The only worry I have with this horse is that he makes jumping errors in strongly run races however that said he seems always to get around Chepstow fine. A sound chance in his jumping holds up. -
4. Moral Support. -
A first class winner on his previous race which was the Rehearsal Chase here earlier in the month. That race often shows the winner of this race and this one deserves to be favourite and looks to have a favourites chance especially of 10st 4lbs. He has had his troubles in the past only winning once until moving to C Mans stable this year but since has won all four of his races. He has a new jockey for this race as his regular one is on the sidelines but as Tony Dobbin in the substitute there should be no problem there but it may mean he will not run so well. He has also run 4 times this year, and no other winner in 10 years has run that many times before winning. Horses sometimes do have a purple patch in their career and I think that it could be argued that this is his, but the question is will it last I think that this horse has all the right credentials for this race but is worth opposing because of that and the new jockey aspect. -
5. Ambleside. -
A good genuine sort of horse this a horse that runs well and consistant if his strike rate is low. Another who loves the Welsh track and who always saves his best for here. He ran a great race behind Moral support earlier this month and was giving him 3lbs this time he will be getting 3lbs so that is quite a big pull even though he was beaten 23 and a half lengths. A beauty of a horse and I think one that will give a good account of himself. He may have not shown he is of this class but I would give him the benefit of the doubt. -
6. Royal Tommy -
This is the one horse that I think has all the credentials for this year's winner. He is another who has everything in his favour the only this against him perhaps is that he is 3lbs out of the handicap but other horses have won from out of the handicap. He won the Jack brown earlier this month and that was the same race that Edmond took before his win last year. He was not quite so impressive a winner as Moral support on that day but he did run 2f longer and got hamper red jumping the last fence. I think that was a very sound effort and I thinking this horse would take some beating. -
So there you have it my selections for 123 would be