Racecards
13:40 Chepstow
Best Odds Guaranteed At 188Bet Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 131y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,511 added
- Winner: £4,614
- 2nd: £1,355
- 3rd: £677
- 4th: £350
- Form P2-51P2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey M G Nolan
held up in touch, challenged 5 out, no impression and lost 2nd 2 out, no extra last
- Form 9-05545
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer Mrs L J Young
- Jockey James Best
held up in rear, headway 6th, lost place when slow 10th, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 944-979
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3rd, lost place before 5th, given reminders, lost touch 8th, tailed off
- Form 5-11042
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Bowen
chased leaders on outside, struggling 10th, rallied when slow next, weakening when went badly left 5 out, tailed off
- Form 121/119-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey N de Boinville
jumped right, made most form 1st until last, no impression flat
- Form 002128
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
led until 1st, chased leader, outpaced 5 out, rallied to go 2nd 2 out, led last, clear flat, stayed on
- Form 933-456
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in rear, headway on inside form 8th, outpaced in 4th from 5 out, well held 3 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Though Micheal Nolan steered Rolling Dylan to victory at Worcester in November, Richard Johnson has ridden the gelding in most of his 13 career starts so it’s interesting that he has the reins here on THOMAS PATRICK. Tom Lacey’s six-year-old looks every inch a chaser and won a hurdle as well as a point-to-point last year. Souriyan had Surtee Du Berlais well behind when chasing home subsequent winner Another Venture in a handicap here last time so rates a danger. Step Back has won three times between the flags and only raced twice under Rules. He ran in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last year after winning at Ludlow and could be anything.
Formwatch
Rolling Dylan (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 10th, jumped left 4 out, soon ridden, led last, idled flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 10, shd behind Wicked Willy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Admiral Blake 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, not fluent 11th, 5th and just about in touch when mistake 15th, soon weakened, 5th of 13, dist behind Clondaw Rigger (10-0) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Say My Name (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Heldd up towards rear, hampered 9th, headway under pressure approaching 11th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 14, 37l behind Miss Tongabezi (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Souriyan (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, pecked 1st, slow 6th, headway before 4 out, narrow 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Another Venture (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Step Back (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Pressed leader to 6th, close up, lost place when hampered 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 15, 32 1/2l behind Penhill (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Thomas Patrick (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Chased winner who was mostly always clear, lost 2nd from 3 out, 5th and fading badly last, last of 8, dist behind Top Ville Ben (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Surtee Du Berlais (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Prominent, slow 1st, led after 6th, hit 10th, headed after 11th, mistake and weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, last of 6, 25 1/4l behind Another Venture (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.