An absolutely brilliant weekend of racing lies ahead.
Although the jump season started back in May, Chepstow’s meeting this weekend signals the true start to the winter game with stars like McFabulous making a chasing debut and a couple of competitive handicap hurdles to enjoy.
Meanwhile, it is the final meeting of the year at York, where I’ll be happy to be in attendance to enjoy some competitive contests while we will see some stars of the future at Newmarket with the Group 1 Dewhurst an absolute stellar renewal. Six of the seven runners in this Group 1 are already rated 110+ so it will be a test of all their credentials to head into winter quarters as classic favourites.
It may be significant that William Haggas and Tom Marquand target York instead of Newmarket this weekend as he and Charlie Appleby battle out the trainers Championship ahead of Champions Day next Saturday.
ALPHA CAPTURE looks to have a favourites chance in the Rockingham. He split Cold Case and Holguin in the big Doncaster sales race last month, with those pair going onto finish first and second at Redcar last Saturday while the fourth took the Goffs Million at the Curragh. He was only a short head behind the winner, who was impressive last week and on just his fourth start, should be too good for his rivals, whom whilst useful are looking a little exposed.
TEA CLIPPER won on this Chepstow card twelve months ago when making his chasing debut and was thrown into the deep end into pattern company in his next two starts when well beaten. However, he ended the campaign with a pair of fine fourths in staying handicaps at Cheltenham and Aintree. He goes well fresh and this trip just shy of three miles should serve him well.
Only Golden Taipan and Peregrine Run (Irish raider) will have confirmed fitness having run recently while Kitty’s Light and Cap Du Nord will have targets for their shrewd trainer Christian Williams, but I doubt this is it. TEA CLIPPER, dropped 2lb despite those solid efforts in defeat, is the one to be on here.
A typically impossible looking sprint on the Knavesmire, but handsome rewards if we find the winner, so it’s worth a dart.
GIS A SUB has run three times at York, finishing second on his debut last June and filling the same spot in the Lowther last August. Although ninth here in August, he was only beaten three lengths and is now 7lb better off with his winning stablemate that day, Bergerac. If we then factor in Oisin McSweeney’s 5lb claim it makes him look very well treated and although his form figures are uninspiring, we are looking at around 25/1 for a runner whose best form would give him outstanding claims and we know he has his favoured conditions.
The Ayr Silver Cup winner Dusky Lord and Ayr Gold Cup fourth and recent course and distance winner Lucky Man are feared while Irish raider, Laugh A Minute, formerly with Roger Varian, has been placed in three hot handicaps lately and runs of the same mark as when just denied in this race last year.
The Cesarewitch has ‘only’ attracted a field of 23 stayers this year, the smallest field this century, with Willie Mullins saddling a trio as he bids for a fourth win in five years. William Buick is on board Baby Zeus while Jason Watson has been claimed for Scaramanga, who has switched from Paul Nicholls, but I like the Saffie Osborne ridden GIBRALTAR at the foot of the weights.
The 5yo was an eight-race maiden when leaving Michael Bell for Closutton last summer and immediately opened his account over hurdles. Comfortable back-to-back wins on the flat this summer does see him off a career high mark, but he has clearly flourished for the new surroundings and going over longer trips. Saffie Osborne is full of confidence too and he rates a solid each way play in this big field.
Nicky Henderson won last years race with Buzz and Ryan Moore will ride his likely favourite Ahorsewithnoname, who hasn’t been seen since winning at York’s Dante meeting in May.
4.02 CHEPSTOW – ZABEEL CHAMPION
The Silver Trophy is the first real signal that the jumps boys are back in town and this years renewal can go to ZABEEL CHAMPION. Jonjo O’Neill’s 5yo has only had four starts over hurdles, having joined form Mark Johnston’s yard where he was rated 104 and bordering on pattern class. The fact he managed to warrant a mark of just 116 for his novice efforts was some effort rom the Jackdaws castle team and he duly obliged off that lenient mark at Haydock in April.
A 4lb rise still makes him of huge appeal considering his flat mark of 99 and lovely low racing weight of just 10-3 should see him hugely competitive.
Proschema, who finished fifth in last year’s contest, tops the weights for Dan Skelton having last been seen on the flat at Royal Ascot, while Paul Nicholls takes the wraps of Knappers Hill, who was last sighted winning a competitive Sandown hurdle on the final day of last season and a 7lb rise shouldn’t rule him out of calculations in just his second season jumping.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
