The Racing Horse offers our Chepstow Racecourse Template for Wednesday 27 December 2023. There is an 8-race card and we note ITV4 are covering the 1.05, 1.40, 2.10 (Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle) and the 2.50 (Welsh Grand National). The going is expected to be soft.

CHEPSTOW Racecourse Template - FREE sign up!

CHEPSTOW FAVOURITES (5 years)
Non-handicap                   Handicap
Hurdle 64-129   50%   +1.44    33-118   28%   -21.67
Chase  8-17     47%   -2.57    51-152   34%    -6.31
NHF    14-47    30%  -11.66    0-0	 	
TOTAL  86-193   45%  -12.79    84-270   31%   -27.98

TOP 5 TRAINERS at Chepstow last 5 years      +/-   E
Paul Nicholls (24%)  57-217   26%   -35.85   +2%   6
Evan Williams (11%)  25-243   10%   -30.37   -1%   4
Fergal O'Brien (19%) 16-122   13%   -33.52   -5%   2
Jonjo O'Neill (15%)  16-125   13%   -44.04   -2%   3
Ven Williams (17%)   15-94    16%    -2.62   -1%   3

HOT TRAINERS 27/11/2023 to 26/12/2023        +/-   E
M Sheppard (12%)   3-9	    33%	  +0.33     +21%   1
Ven Williams (17%) 16-58    28%	  -5.50     +11%   3
F O'Brien (19%)	   14-52    27%	  -6.00      +8%   2
N T-Davies (15%)   14-53    26%	  +1.08     +11%   2
P Nicholls (24%)   18-74    24%	  -1.49      +0%   6

COLD LIST TRAINERS   SAW
M Keighley (12%)      53     60 days               1
C Williams (9%)       30     35 days               1
R Curtis (12%)	      26     58 days               2

TOP 5 JOCKEYS at Chepstow last 5 years       +/-   R
Harry Cobden (23%)  39-149   26%   -45.95    +3%   4  
Adam Wedge (13%)    19-172   11%   -18.37    -2%   2
Ben Jones (14%)     16-76    21%   +16.58    +7%   0
Jonjo O'Neill (16%) 15-104   14%   -29.63    -2%   1
Paddy Brennan (20%) 14-72    19%    +3.47    -1%   2

HOT JOCKEYS 27/11/2023 to 26/12/2023         +/-   R
Paddy Brennan (20%)   8-19    42%   -1.00   +22%   2
Charlie Deutsch (14%) 13-47   28%   +1.45   +14%   5

COLD LIST JOCKEYS   SAW                            R                         
Jack Tudor (10%)     31    29 days                 2 
David Noonan (6%)    25    12 days                 3

TOP 6 OWNERS at Chepstow last 5 years        +/-   E 
William Rucker (14%) 11-63   17%    -4.87    +3%   0   
John P McManus (17%) 10-67   15%    +3.40    -2%   2   
Colm Donlon (25%)    6-14    43%   +11.93   +18%   0
Walters Plant (19%)  6-38    16%   -11.05    -3%   2  
K & A Brooks (19%)   5-12    42%   +10.87   +23%   0
David Brace (12%)    5-23    22%    +8.00   +10%   1

Chepstow Fixtures:
Sunday 7 January 2024
Tuesday 16 January 2024

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 a punter friendly racecourse. The last 5 years show 170 winning favourites from 463 races for 36.72% (-40.77) so around +4% above the national average. Non-handicap winning favourites score 86-193 for 45% whilst handicap winning favourites score 84-270 for 31% for a 14% differential. Best category for strike rate are winning favourites in non-handicap hurdles who score at 50%.

PLEASE NOTE: There are 3 non-handicap hurdle races at the course tomorrow and winning favourites score at 50% in that type of race. The races include the 12.00, 12.30 & 2.10 and will be our favoured areas in which to stake in. We have already nominated BURDETT ROAD as our Pacafi in the 2.10. We hope to get a word about the horse after the race especially in regard to the Triumph Hurdle and will report back!

TRAINERS: Paul Nicholls (24%) is easily top trainer at the course with 57 winners at a strike rate of 26% over the past 5 years. He is always well represented here and FOR this meeting has 6 runners including: LARGY POET 12.00, JACKPOT D'ATHOU 12.30, QUEL DESTIN 1.05, TRUCKERS LODGE & COMPLETE UNKNOWN 2.50 and KAP BOY 3.55.

Sam Thomas (21%) is top trainer at the course this season scoring 5-12 for 42% (+5.85) and has 5 entries this time and a real chance of a win double with GOOD RISK AT ALL 1.05 & ROCKING MAN 3.55, both to be ridden by Sam Twisto-Davies.

JOCKEYS: Harry Cobden (23%) mirrors the figures of the Nicholls stable scoring 26% at the course. He rides: LARGY POET 12.00, BURDETT ROAD 2.10, COMPLETE UNKNOWN 2.50 & KAP BOY 3.55. He will be looking for a win double!

Sam Twiston-Davies (15%) is top jockey at the course this season scoring 5-15 for 33% (+4.65) and he has 7 rides in total on the 8-race card and has real chances of a win double from GOOD RISK AT ALL 1.05, UNCLE BERT 1.40 & ROCKING MAN 3.55.

OWNERS: J P McManus (17%) It is very rare we have 2 entries from this owner at this course with opening shows of 100/1 and 40/1, but that's what we have with JONGLEUR D'ETOILES 12.00 & JASMIN DE GRUGY 12.30.

Walters Plant Hire (19%) have entries also but both are current favourites re GOOD RISK AT ALL 1.05 & ROCKING MAN, both trained by his neighbour and trainer Sam Thomas.

David Brace (12%) is one shrewd cookie and known to us. He has just the one entry in CLASSIC CONCORDE 1.40 and his grandson Connor Brace rides.

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