Racecards
14:30 Chepstow
New Premier Restaurant Opens 23rd April Maiden Hurdle (Class E) (Class E)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 30
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss Victoria Roberts
- Jockey C Rafter
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, chased clear leaders from 3 out, always held
- Form 31F05-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
in touch until ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 532-200
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
kean, led 2nd, soon clear, slight mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, very easily
- Form 00
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J S Moore
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, headway to track winner 3 out, mistake 2 out, always held
- Form 0P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
held up rear, ridden after 4th, never dangerous
Oh So Brave
10- Form P1PPP-5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr J Cook
keen and led 1st, headed before next, in touch until weakened after 3 out
- Form 6-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
mid-division, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 004-3F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey S Durack
held up rear and very keen, ridden approaching 4th, outpaced but stayed on from 4 out
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr R M P McNally
towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 06P-0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Mrs S Williams
- Jockey C Llewellyn
led approaching 2nd, soon headed, tracked winner until weakened after 3 out
Whitestone
71- Form 0/P0
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Mrs J Retter
- Jockey L P Aspell
saddle slipped, pulled up before 3rd
In depth
Verdict
Ilabon is the selection over the so far disappointing Still Speedy, and Coolbythepool in a moderate looking affair. There is nothing to get excited about here, with nothing making too much appeal, apart from Martin Pipe's Ilabon. The ex-French gelding has yet to open his account on these shores, but has gone close on a couple of occasions and will benefit from the drop in grade here. Second at Leicester in January on what was his first run since March 2003, he was not surprisingly down the field in Sandown's Imperial Cup, and then finished eighth in Listed company at Aintree. The longer trip seemed to suit him that day and it is a bit worrying that he is back over two miles, but the opposition are not up to much so he still looks the one to beat. Still Speedy has been costly to follow since his bumper days and was a faller on his hurdles debut at Fakenham. The ability is there somewhere, but until he shows some of it, cannot be backed with confidence. Ian Williams has his team in reasonable shape so Coolbythepool may run well for a place. Six times a winner on the Flat, he was an encouraging sixth at Stratford on his hurdles bow recently, so should improve again. However, Ilabon is more experienced and should have this lot's measure.