Racecards
14:57 Chepstow
Pertemps Network Opportunity Around The Corner Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 131y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Winner: £9,384
- 2nd: £2,772
- 3rd: £1,386
- 4th: £693
- Form 111F-PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
held up on outside, closed 4th, driven after 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 226-248
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
held up on inside, closed 7th, went 2nd before last, stayed on, always just held
- Form 16-4157
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
held up, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, not fluent 3 out, outpaced next, soon switched right, mistake last, stayed on flat
- Form 2212-4P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
- Form 500-842
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Fergus Gillard
chased winner, not fluent 6th, ridden 2 out, lost 2nd before last, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 1/644-P4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey Tom Buckley
slowly into stride, jumped slowly, chased leaders, reminder 4th, lost place down back straight, rallied briefly after 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
COPPERHEAD reverts to hurdles for the first time since completing a double at Sandown two years ago. He developed into a smart chaser last season and, though failing to complete in his last three, can bounce back to form here. Poker Play gets plenty of weight and a recent second at Plumpton suggests he’s fairly treated at present. Blackjack Kentucky is another whose fortunes could be improved by a switch back to hurdles and Spiritofthegames has form in hot handicaps off this sort of mark, though hasn’t raced over the smaller obstacles since 2018.
Formwatch
Copperhead 12-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 9th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, lost touch 11th, ridden after 13th, tailed off before 2 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Two For Gold (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Perfect Man (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 7th, close up final bend, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 30 1/2l behind Brinkley (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Blackjack Kentucky (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, awkward 4th, dropped to midfield 6th, pushed along 11th, ridden after 5 out, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Ffos Las 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Poker Play (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Led, dived at 2 out, soon headed, chased winner, well held when went left last, held on for modest 2nd, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Zhiguli (11-3) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Diger Daudaie (FR) 25-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along 7th, ridden and headway 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Potters Hedger (11-0) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.