Chepstow Placepot (22 Oct 2005)

Course Description
Chepstow is a grade one, left-handed, 2 mile, oval course. The run-in is 240 yards. The track is considered to be undulating with above average fences. The going is often very testing so stamina is important. The course also favours front runners.

Strategy
When referring to Malcolm Boyles “The Placepot Annual”, the statistics for Chepstow indicate that October is the month for massive placepot dividends.

All races present intriguing puzzles and all potential placepot busters!!

The ground today is soft and Chepstow is one of those courses where stamina is required in abundance due to the many undulations. Preference will also be given to previous course and distance winners along with horses trained by Martin Pipe, Philip Hobbs and Paul Nicholls as these trainers dominate races at this venue. Race card number in [brackets]

1.25 Gr2 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Persian War Novices' Hurdle Race
The easiest race on the card and should go to one of the market leaders.
Massinis Maguire[4], Rimsky[7]

1.55 Listed Ladbrokes Com Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle Race
The stats indicate 5/6 year-olds and oppose the favourite, and look for horses toward the top of the handicap. Lacdoudal[ 6], and

Yes Sir (NAP – 1 point win) [1]. Easy winner of a valuable Bangor hurdle 70 days ago and the runner up and 4th from there have both since won. Up 9lbs now but looks like there is still more to come.

2.25 Lexus Beginners' Steeple Chase
An absolute nightmare of a race. The trainers with the best record in this race are Nicholls and Evan Williams, so I’ll select Reflected Glory[6] and Windy Spirit[8]

3.00 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Race Qualifier
No many clues with the exception that lightly weighted horses should be the focus for selection. Victory Gunner[7] has won 2 from 5 races at Chepstow and will relish the conditions. The same can be said of Mount Clerigo [4] who makes his handicap appearance.

3.35 John And Iris Watts Remembrance Day Handicap Steeple Chase
A race for older horses with the average age of the winner around 9 years old. 6 yo’s have attempted this race 5 times, all have being beaten so I’ll oppose the market leader East Lawyer with Dangerousdanmagru[5] who likes testing conditions and Imaginaire [3] who is also proven over this distance and ground.

4.10 Rhys Howells Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase
A real stamina test for these lowly rated horses. Lightly weighted 6/7 year-olds are the one’s to concentrate on and I’ll take a chance on unexposed 6yo Aisjem[8] from the Evan Williams yard that is on fire at the moment and the consistent Apple Joe[7] who will relish the conditions and distance.