The Racing Horse offers our Chepstow Racecourse Template for Saturday 14 October 2023). There is a 7-race card containing 2 Handicap Chases, 2 Handicap Hurdles, a Juvenile Hurdle, a Novice Chase and a NHF Race.

After a lot of rain yesterday the going is expected to be heavy, but we will post an update on that at 10am Saturday. We are expecting a number of non-runners because of the going...

CHEPSTOW FAVOURITES (5 years)
Non-handicap                   Handicap
Hurdle 59-116   51%   +4.90    31-107   29%   -16.42
Chase  8-16     50%   -1.57    47-138   34%    -1.43
NHF    11-42    26%  -13.11    0-0	 	
TOTAL  78-174   45%   -9.78    78-245   32%   -17.86

TOP 4 TRAINERS at Chepstow last 5 years      +/-   E
Paul Nicholls (24%)  50-193   26%   -29.24   +2%   9
Evan Williams (11%)  24-217   11%   -25.37   +0%   0
Jonjo O'Neill (15%)  16-113   14%   -32.04   -1%   4
Fergal O'Brien (19%) 15-111   14%   -39.52   -5%   2

HOT TRAINERS 14/09/2023 to 13/10/2023        +/-   E
Harry Derham (25%) 2-4	   50%	  +1.75     +25%   1
N Henderson (21%)  3-8	   38%	  +0.33     +17%   1 
B Brookhouse (14%) 8-23	   35%	  -2.00     +21%   1
N T-Davies (14%)   13-39   33%	  -5.00     +19%   1
O Murphy (17%)     7-24	   29%	  +0.91     +12%   1
 
COLD LIST TRAINERS  SAW                            E                         
Dr R Newland (16%)   19    44 days                 1           
Mrs J Williams (13%) 20   118 days                 2
S Edmunds (13%)	     15    56 days                 1
C Williams (9%)      16    50 days                 3

TOP 5 JOCKEYS at Chepstow last 5 years       +/-   R
Harry Cobden (23%)  35-132   27%   -37.58    +4%   7 
Adam Wedge (13%)    17-148   11%   -17.37    -2%   1  
Jonjo O'Neill (16%) 15-93    16%   -18.63    +0%   4
Paddy Brennan (20%) 14-69    20%    +6.47    +0%   0
Ben Jones (14%)	    12-61    20%   +15.11    +6%   0

HOT JOCKEYS 14/09/2023 to 13/10/2023         +/-   R
L Harrison (15%)   5-13     39%    +9.38    +24%   1
S T-Davies (15%)   15-43    35%    -6.00    +20%   2
J O'Neill Jr (16%) 3-10     30%    +7.50    +14%   4
H Skelton (21%)	   9-34     27%    -1.75     +6%   5
S Bowen (19%)	   13-56    23%    -3.00     +4%   4
 
COLD LIST JOCKEYS  SAW                             R
N Scholfield (10%)  20     31 days                 1
A Wedge (13%)	    16     14 days                 1            
                           
TOP 5 OWNERS at Chepstow last 5 years        +/-   E 
William Rucker (15%) 11-56   20%    +2.12    +5%   0
John P McManus (17%) 10-61   16%    +9.40    -1%   0
Colm Donlon (26%)    5-12    42%    +7.93   +16%   1
K & A Brooks (19%)   5-12    42%   +10.87   +23%   0
David Brace (12%)    5-22    23%    +9.00   +11%   0

Chepstow Fixtures:
Saturday 14 October 2023
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Wednesday 8 November 2023
Friday 24 November 2023
Saturday 9 December 2023

CHEPSTOW CONFIGURATION: Chepstow is a left-handed, undulating, oval course, nearly two miles around with eleven fences to a circuit, a five-furlong home straight and a run-in of 250 yards. Conditions can be very testing. With five fences in the straight, the first part of which is downhill, front runners - or those leading into the straight - do well here, especially over shorter distances, and the fences don't claim the number of casualties that might be expected.

FAVOURITES: Chepstow is generally regarded as a punter friendly racecourse but the conditions tomorrow will make things tough and these figures might be compromised. The last 5 years show 156-419 for 37.23% so +5% above the national average. Non-handicap favourites score 78-174 for 45% whilst handicap favourites score 78-245 for 32%. Yesterday there were 3 winning favourites from the 7 races for 43%.

TRAINERS: Paul Nicholls (24%) originally had 9 runners for this special fixture but his plans have been decimated by the weather and the consequential ground conditions! Our update (06.23) shows he has 4 runners including KNAPPERS HILL 3.10, LALLYWAG & SONIGINO 4.15 and KAP BOY 5.22. Freddie Gingell (7) rides Lallywag but the other 3 runners are to be ridden by Harry Cobden.

Jonjo O'Neill Snr (15%) has 4 runners after scoring 0-4 on Friday finishing 3368. His runners for Saturday include COEUR SEREIN 2.30, COLLECTORS ITEM 3.10, ANYHARMINASKING 4.15 & KING OF TARA 5.22.

JOCKEYS: There are 5 hot jockeys with rides but once again the changing ground conditions might reduce their numbers. As we go to post they have 16 rides...

OWNERS: Only Colm Donlon (26%) has a runner tomorrow in SHARED 4.50 trained by Harry Derham and to be ridden by Paul O'Brien. Has a place chance at least.

Record times for Chepstow are very quick, which shows how slick it can be when the ground is fast, but horses can finish strung out like washing when it gets soft. Punters really must take note of conditions then, if they’re having a bet, because horses with stamina limitations can get home when the going is right for them, while it can be a real slog when it’s heavy. The other things to consider seriously are the undulations and the downhill run from the last. If you walk round the course, for example, you’ll be aware that, from several places out in the country, you can’t see the stands. The run-in, on the other hand, is quite steeply downhill, very quick on fast ground, and that’s why you often see horses make a mistake at the final jump - Mick Fitzgerald