The Racing Horse goes racing on Easter Monday to the lovely CHEPSTOW RACECOURSE, the gateway to Wales and a course we cherish. This meeting is kindly sponsored by FRIARS WALK NEWPORT and it promises a great day out!

Friars Walk Centre Director, Simon Pullen told us: "We're really pleased to sponsor the Family Raceday at Chepstow. The Friars Walk Newport Easter Monday Family Raceday promises to be an enjoyable day out with entertainment including live music, circus skill workshops, face painting and go carts. Friars Walk is also the perfect place for family fun with a Cineworld, Super Bowl UK, a whole host of family friendly restaurants and shops including Debenhams, Smiggle and more, so it seemed like the perfect partnership. We're looking forward to seeing lots of families at Chepstow on the day."

There is a very good 7-race card with the top trainers in attendance but also plenty of FREE entertainment on site, in fact more than ever booked before! To keep the whole family entertained there is live music from a fantastic Little Mix and Ariana Grande tribute, Panic Circus where your family can practice their circus skills, fairground rides, face painting, a fire engine, go-karts, cricket skills, magician, roaming reptiles, inflatables, bungee trampolines and more! The weather is set fair for Easter Monday and the course will be ablaze with beautiful horses, fun and excitement. If this does not encourage the next generation to come racing then nothing will! Full marks to both the sponsors and the team at Chepstow Racecourse!

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The Racing Horse offers our Racecourse Template for Chepstow for Monday 22 April 2019. As always we will reveal those important/pertinent figures that matter. We look at the performance of the different disciplines in both handicap and non-handicap National Hunt races at the course. A cursory glance at the two sets of figures show a huge disparity in hurdle races (47% v 32%) that must be factored into those thought processes. Assuming they have runners or rides we highlight the trainers and jockeys most likely to be involved at the business end, based on current performances.

Scanning the card it looks as though trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Sean Bowen are the two to follow today! The Racing Horse nap is MAGIC SAINT 3.45 Chepstow.CHEPSTOW RACECOURSE TEMPLATE (Going: Good, good to firm in places)

FAVOURITES
NON-HANDICAP RACES (5 YEARS)       HANDICAP RACES (5 YEARS)

Hurdle:   63-135 for 47%  (+0.42)   43-136 for 32% (-2.22)
Chase:    11-30  for 37%  (-9.04)   53-159 for 33% (+8.34)
NHF:      17-49  for 35%  (-8.89)    0-0   for  - 
Total:    91-214 for 43% (-17.51)   96-295 for 33% (+6.12)

TOP TRAINERS at Chepstow for current season
Paul Nicholls:     9 wins from 36 for 25%  (+2.91)
Philip Hobbs:      8 wins from 46 for 17%  (+4.83)
Evan Williams:     6 wins from 44 for 14% (+43.87)
Colin Tizzard:     5 wins from 38 for 13%  (-1.62)
Henry Whittington: 3 wins from  9 for 33%  (-3.40)

TOP TRAINERS at Chepstow for last 5 seasons
Philip Hobbs:        39 wins from 198 for 20%
Evan Williams:       38 wins from 236 for 16%
Paul Nicholls:       36 wins from 179 for 20%
Peter Bowen:         21 wins from 133 for 16%
Nigel Twiston-Davies 21 wins from 139 for 15%

TOP JOCKEYS at Chepstow for current season
Richard Johnson: 10 wins from 46 for 22% (+14.00)
Harry Cobden:     7 wins from 34 for 21% (+13.00)
Adam Wedge:       4 wins from 36 for 11% (+43.50)
S Twiston-Davies: 3 wins from 17 for 18%  (-1.58)
Paddy Brennan:    3 wins from 17 for 18% (+21.50)

TOP JOCKEYS at Chepstow for last 5 seasons
Richard Johnson:  48 wins from 219 for 22%
S Twiston-Davies: 31 wins from 156 for 20%
Sean Bowen:       27 wins from 123 for 22%
Tom Scudamore:    24 wins from 155 for 15%
Adam Wedge:       18 wins from 133 for 14%

The Racing Horse looks at each race and offers some pertinent information and betting advice...

2.00: County Marquees Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) 2m3f110y

Trainer Tom Lacey shows a profit of £80.73 to level stakes when having only one runner on the card (hurdles) and he saddles Silk Run. Also, he has a strike rate of 22% with hurdlers running between 2m2f up to 2m6f

Timeform 

A decidedly trappy opener with a chance taken on MON ELDORADO. He appeals as being on a workable mark on his maiden hurdle exploits and he's surely better than his reappearance effort at the beginning of the month implies. Silk Run, on the back of wind surgery, and Picture Painter head the dangers.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: SILK RUN 7/2 (WINNER) 2: DANCING WITH STORMS 10/1 3: ANGLE HIDEAWAY 10/1 (NR)

Both of Silk Run's wins have come on good ground and might be all the better for a wind operation. Tom Lacey's statistics also highlight a chance and the 7/2 looks a decent price and we have gone each way to nothing.

2.35: Dean Close Foundation Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 4) 2m7f131y 

Sean Bowen's strike rate at Chepstow is 22% (TRAFALGAR ROCK)

Trainer Sophie Leech is 0-39 since December 2018 and only two second-places.

Timeform 

The Sophie Leech-trained duo GENERAL BUX and Old Harry Rocks should have this between them, given how poorly Trafalgar Rock performed at Ffos Las recently. Old Harry Rocks is clearly well treated following his near miss on Saturday, but this is a quick turnaround, and if General Bux is back to the form which saw him score in good style at Huntingdon on Boxing Day, he will take some pegging back.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: GENERAL BUX 11/4 (WINNER) 2: OLD HARRY ROCKS 8/11 (NR)  3: TRAFALGAR ROCK 7/2 

General Bux was an impressive all-the-way winner at Huntingdon (19.9f) on debut for this yard on Boxing Day. Clearly wasn't 100% when pulled up over the same course and distance next time and now equipped with a hood/tongue strap. A selection but with no confidence, especially given the form of the trainer!

This is the sort of race that if you ran it four times you would have different winners. Tactics and who makes the mistake at a critical time to determine the winner, a race we will watch and compare the two Bowen boys in action.

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3.10: Friars Walk Newport Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4) 2m3f100y 

Sean Bowen's strike rate at Chepstow is 22% (INFLUENTIAL LADY)

Trainer Sophie Leech is 0-39 since December 2018 and only two second-places. Her runner Stephanie Sunshine is currently the 5/2 joint favourite.

Timeform 

By no means a deep novice, and though STEPHANIE SUNSHINE has her limitations, the pick of her handicap form at this track is the best on offer and she can make her experience count. Influential Lady is capable of getting involved now hurdling, with Lady Marwah also a player, for all this step up in trip is a surprising move.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: INFLUENTIAL LADY 3/1  2: LADY MARWAH 5/2 

Influential Lady responded well when third of 11 on second bumper start at Uttoxeter in June. Fitted with eyeshields when disappointing at Worcester 2 months later but in good hands ahead of hurdles debut. Just shades it...

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3.45: Friars Walk Newport Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m11y

Paul Nicholls strike rate at Chepstow since the start of the 2014/15 season is 23% and saddles MAGIC SAINT. Also, his strike rate with chasers at up to 2m3f is 28%.

Sean Bowen has a strike rate of 22% at Chepstow (WELLS DE LUNE)

Timeform

MAGIC SAINT was a little underwhelming when fancied for the Grand Annual, then was unlucky to fall last time, but he's unexposed for his new yard and probably still ahead of his mark, so he can regain the winning thread in this sort of company. Full Irish threatened a revival last time and is feared most ahead of Wells de Lune.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: MAGIC SAINT 10/11 (2nd)  2; SIZING PLATINUM 11/2 (WINNER)

Exacta £17.20 & CSF £10.69

Magic Saint was a multiple winner in France who was off the mark for this yard at Wincanton in February. Found little in Grand Annual, then fell having been hampered at Ayr next time. He's the leading player in this and is being considered as a Pacafi.

Paul Nicholls told us previously: "He won the two-mile handicap chase at Wincanton a few weeks ago. He’s just taken a bit of time to acclimatise. At Haydock he was a little bit keen, then he ran a little bit better at Ascot, we gave him a bit more time and then we dropped him in trip at Wincanton 10 days ago and he sluiced in. He jumped well, travelled well and I’ve always been training him with the Grand Annual in mind. From what I know of him I’d say he’d have a leading chance in that, he’s a progressive horse that will just keep going forward. We really like him. Hopefully he’ll be better than a handicapper in time."

MAGIC SAINT is a PACAFI.

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4.20: Friars Walk Newport National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

Harry Cobden has a strike rate of 41% on hurdling favourites (FRIEND OR FOE)

Timeform 

While FRIEND OR FOE ultimately proved disappointing back from a break at Haydock, he travelled well for a long way in that competitive handicap and, likely to be sharper this time, the 4yo should prove too strong for Peppay Le Pugh on these terms. Tilson is impossible to make a case for judged on his recent Rules debut.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: FRIEND OR FOE 8/13 (WINNER)  2: PEPPAY LA PUGH 13/8 (NR)

The Skeltons have been flogging Peppay lately in a bid to hit records. This will be his seventh run since 21 February and he only raced 2 days ago. With a no hoper in this three-horse field we can expect the jockey William Marshall (7) to sit quiet once/if he looks beaten. Would hate to see him driven in the straight. Friend Or Foe still looks a bit short even with the view expressed and not seen fast ground before. The consensus seems for the Nicholls charge to force the pace to make it a true run race, interesting to see what the market says just before post time.

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4.55: Urban Flooring Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m7f131y

Fergal O'Brien's profit to level stakes is £21.09 when having just one runner on the card (chases) (LOVELY JOB). Sean Bowen has a 22% strike rate at Chepstow and rides Lovely Job.

Paul Nicholls has a 23% strike rate at Chepstow since the start of the 2014/15 season (THEDELLERCHECKOUT)

Timeform 

THE DELLERCHECKOUT's Taunton success has been boosted by the runner-up subsequently and this upwardly-mobile chaser looks well capable of following up in a race that won't take much winning. Shanahan's Turn makes most appeal of the others for all he's not straightforward.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: THEDELLERCHECKOUT 8/15  2: LOVELY JOB 5/1 (WINNER)

Looks a chaser and opened his account on the second attempt over the larger obstacles (blinkered first time) in 5-runner handicap at Taunton last time. Obvious claims on the back of that.

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5.30: Longcroft Building Services Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 5) 2m11y 

Paul Nicholls has a 31% strike-rate in bumpers in 2018/19 (SOUTHFIELD HARVEST)

Timeform

SOUTHFIELD HARVEST is bred to come into his own tackling obstacles over staying trips, but there's no reason why he can't pick up a bumper prior to that following a promising start at Exeter last month. Piggy Winkle's dam was a triple winner in this sphere and he represents a powerful yard, so he's a newcomer to monitor closely in the betting.

The Racing Horse Verdict:

1: SOUTHFIELD HARVEST 10/11  (WINNER) 2: PIGGY WINKLE 2/1 (NR)

Southfield Harvest displayed plenty of promise when finishing third on his debut at Exeter last month and the son of Kayf Tara could be hard to beat if improving for that experience and round off a great day for Paul Nicholls. He could have three winners today at Chepstow.

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