It was actually good to be again on the Chepstow Jumps Opener yesterday, not simply due to the joys of correct nationwide hunt racing, but in addition because of the reality I received to see a surprising chasing debut with my very own eyes.
đź’ Chepstow Day 1 Ideas:
Essentially the most spectacular efficiency was simply Chianti Classico for @kimbaileyracing.
Simple to say that he was all the time a ‘chaser within the making’, however after he settled underneath David Bass he jumped like an skilled chaser all through.
Nevertheless, what was most… https://t.co/Ns00EUhVMm
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) October 13, 2023
Chianti Classico supplied BestofBets readers with some tidy revenue yesterday as Kim Bailey’s six-year-old jumped like an skilled chaser and gained snugly underneath David Bass.
His win made up for the agonising defeat of Aye Proper within the opener, so it actually was a day of blended feelings yesterday.
Aye Proper eight lengths clear on the final… crushed on the road.
Deliver again the Flat.
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) October 13, 2023
as we speak, fewer horses stand out as clearly as they did yesterday, nonetheless, three horses nonetheless grabbed my consideration for the second day of motion on the Welsh course.
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3:10 Chepstow – Collectors Merchandise @ 10/1 Common – 1pt Win
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Heavy floor is on the menu at Chepstow as we speak after yesterday’s deluge, one thing that may solely profit the prospect of Collectors Merchandise within the Listed Novices’ Chase at 3:10.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained six-year-old gained on this card final 12 months within the two-mile novice hurdle to beat Hugos New Horse by two-and-a-quarter lengths; Hugos New Horse went on to win 4 races after this run to frank the shape.
Good hurdling debut! Collectors Merchandise is just too sturdy at @Chepstow_Racing for @JJONeillJnr and @JonjoONeill… pic.twitter.com/5HmIIzbWZF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 7, 2022
This efficiency over the minimal distance stunned connections as they all the time thought he could be higher over an additional distance, although his victory at this monitor and second at Newbury over two miles in a bumper reveals that he has loads of pace.
After the flip of the brand new 12 months, the £115,000 buy gained on his first begin at three miles to beat Makin’yourmindup, although Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old reversed the shape within the Grade 2 Status Novices’ Hurdle one month later.
Fifth to subsequent Challow hero Hermes Allen final outing, Collectors Merchandise gamely information a second win over timber for @JonjoONeill & @JJONeillJnr @kemptonparkrace 🏇
Outcomes: https://t.co/BnGTfBq5GU pic.twitter.com/mVfDpQnfKq
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 14, 2023
When talking to Jonjo O’Neill Jnr final season, he mentioned that “no matter he does this 12 months is a bonus as he will certainly go over fences” and that he was nonetheless rising into his body firstly of this 12 months.
One can deduce from these feedback that he barely overperformed expectations final 12 months and, apparently, connections are sending him into this Listed contest on his first run over fences.
Admittedly, Collectors Merchandise has to discover a bit on scores with Knappers Hill and Surprising Occasion, nonetheless, there’s an opportunity that Paul Nicholls’ Grade 2-winning hurdler prefers higher floor and Dan Skelton’s second-season novice nonetheless must show himself over fences.
Though as we speak’s activity is over 2m3f, Collectors Merchandise is a confirmed stayer over additional and with situations set to be in his favour, this unexposed sort might take an enormous step ahead as we speak.
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4:15 Chepstow – Molly Ollys Needs @ 8/1 Common – 1pt EW
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The ÂŁ70,000 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle highlights the second day of the Chepstow Jumps Opener and lots right here have attention-grabbing profiles.
Each Uncle Bert and Signal From Above lured me in for a chronic look into their type, although the one I couldn’t get away from was Molly Ollys Needs at 8/1.
Regardless of her victory within the Listed bet365 Mares’ Hurdle in October, the nine-year-old mare had a season to neglect final 12 months as she was unfound in her 5 subsequent runs, though three of them will be forgiven as a result of journey and floor causes.
An actual battle right here! ⚔️
Molly Ollys Needs holds on to win the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle for the second time 🥇#ITVRacing | @WetherbyRaces | @harryskelton89 | @Dannskelton pic.twitter.com/7IdhfthHR6
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 29, 2022
Having began final season on an official mark of 143, Dan Skelton’s skilled hurdler rocks as much as as we speak’s Silver Trophy off a mark of 134 and with Tristan Durrell’s helpful five-pound declare, she may be very well-handicapped on all recognized type.
Admittedly, one has to return to December 2020 for her final handicap victory when profitable off a mark of 130 underneath Harry Skelton at Kempton, however from there, Molly Ollys Needs was pitched into 11 straight level-weights contests and managed to win the Grade 2 SBK Mares’ Hurdle in January 2022 and three Listed-level races.
Three for the Skeltons! Molly Ollys Needs holds out to win the Grade 2 @sbk Mares’ Hurdle at @Ascot! @DSkeltonRacing @harryskelton89 pic.twitter.com/osQoA6MGTm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 22, 2022
Of those 4 most up-to-date victories, all of them got here off a break of no less than 50 days and two of them have been on her seasonal reappearance, so her file when recent is impeccable.
Moreover, all 4 of those victories got here on floor various from good to delicate (Wetherby) to heavy (Warwick), so as we speak’s heavy situations ought to go well with properly.
As prompt, a number of unexposed sorts in right here might present huge enchancment, however with the well-handicapped nature of Molly Ollys Needs, it’s laborious to depart her alone.
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4:50 Chepstow – Despereaux @ 7/1 Common – 1pt EW
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For the reason that non-runner announcement of Afadil yesterday, Chepstow’s penultimate race became an attention-grabbing betting contest and the one which appeals essentially the most is Despereaux at 7/1.
Jane Williams’ four-year-old comes into his seasonal reappearance as an unexposed prospect having raced simply 5 instances final season.
He confirmed loads of greenness throughout his first run in a junior nationwide hunt hurdle at Ffos Las, a lot in order that he ran himself out earlier than the ultimate flight.
This exuberance continued into his second begin at Huntingdon in November, although David Noonan managed to carry him collectively after the final and guided him residence to what was a powerful half-a-length success.
Good effort 🏇
Despereaux ran out on debut, however impresses to attain on his second begin over hurdles for @NandJ_WilliamsR & David Noonan @Huntingdon_Race pic.twitter.com/BtRSrVeSy7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 19, 2022
After Christmas, the Nice Pretender gelding rocked as much as a sizzling Class 2 juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon and regardless of what the eight-length third might recommend, he carried out properly within the circumstances.
In a race gained by Perseus Means, a Gary Moore-trained gelding that went on to complete second within the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle on his subsequent begin, Despereaux jumped the final hurdle one-length behind the eventual winner, nonetheless, he made an enormous blunder which value him any likelihood at profitable the race.
He is good! 🏇
Perseus Means jumps significantly better than he has carried out beforehand to justify quick odds emphatically within the characteristic Weatherbys Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle @Huntingdon_Race. Subsequent cease the Triumph?
Effectively carried out Gary Moore and @jemoore85 pic.twitter.com/nuQFqCb9Zp
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 13, 2023
Even with this last flight mistake, he ran via the road properly underneath Noonan to complete 5 lengths behind the second, Samuel Spade; Ben Pauling’s four-year-old bolted up by 16 lengths on his subsequent begin, additional franking the shape.
Following a powerful two-length victory at Taunton in March and a disappointing effort within the huge Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Ascot, Despereaux finds himself on a workable mark of 116, the bottom score within the race.
I discover it laborious to consider he’s the worst horse in as we speak’s four-year-old hurdle, so because of this, taking a swing at 7/1 appears to be like like an thrilling thought.
