Speculate 2 Accumulate

Chepstow 3.57

By Irish Racing (Sean aka Placespotter)

Chepstow 3.57 - Silver Trophy - Handicap Hurdle - Class 1 - 2 miles 3 1/2 furlongs - Going Good.

An intriguing race with many having seasonal debut and an awful lot of potential. The Going is Good but there were some very big cloudbursts not far from the Track yesterday and showery again today, it's unlikely to dry out and could be soft side of Good. Not the deep ground we can see here though and no excuses Going wise.

I looked at something that had got a run or two under it's belt but other than Dino Velvet for Alan King, who is not really proven at the trip I can't find anything and some of the big Yards don't need a run these days with anything.

Of those lower down the market the Christian Williams trained KHAGE is being nibbled at, local Trainer so someone may know something, could have been flagged up by one of those Bookie backed "horses to follow / blog services" that pepper NH Racing on a Saturday but hard to see on form why it would be anything other than an outsider. 

I kept coming back to the same 3 so here they are in preference order.

FLASH THE STEEL - won this race in 2019, finishing strongly off a suicidal early pace. The horse started in the P2P sphere so has proven stamina and pretty sure the Skeltons will have him fighting fit. Up 8lbs for that win but Course form and early season form are vital assets and can see him running another big race. The better Going should ensure a strong pace as can't see them dawdling and the harder they go the better for this one.

NOTRE PARI for Olly Murphy with Jonjo Junior up is a progressive Hurdler who won twice last season, ticks all boxes and definitely one to follow. The same can be said of SIR PSYCHO one of a few for Paul Nicholls, interesting he enlists Brian Carver, who takes off a crucial 5 lbs and with the number of top jockeys at his disposal indicates they want to have a real go with this 3 time winner last season.

TIP - Flash The Steel / TRACKER - Notre Pari  NON RUNNER + Sir Psycho (reserve Saint Sonnet at 8/1)