The Racing Horse offers our Chepstow Racecourse Template for Thursday 20 March 2025. There is a 7-race card containing 2 Handicap Chases, 3 Handicap Hurdles, a Novices' Hurdle and a NHF Race. The going is expected to be good.

Data: Last 5 years
Non-handicaps                      Handicaps
Hurdle  75   148   51%    +2.67    38   136   28%   -31.28
Chase    6    15   40%    -4.82    63   174   36%    +8.00
NHF     19    53   36%    -8.41
Total  100   216   46%   -10.56    101  310   33%   -23.28

Top 5 Trainers                                    +/-    E
Paul Nicholls (25%)	61-232	 26%	-35.61    +1%    4
Evan Williams (11%)	30-284	 11%	-55.12    +0%    3
Dan Skelton (18%)       17-159   11%    -80.20    -7%    0
Fergal O'Brien (18%)	16-133	 12%	-38.77    -6%    2   
Sam Thomas (21%)        15-72    21%     +7.84    +0%    0

Top 5 Jockeys                                     +/-    R
Harry Cobden (23%)	48-173	 28%	-27.40    +5%    3
Ben Jones (13%)	        21-98	 21%	+65.55    +8%    2
Adam Wedge (11%)        20-185   11%    -49.85    +0%    2
Jonjo O'Neill Jr (15%)	17-116	 15%	-35.39    +1%    0  
Gavin Sheehan (16%)     16-76    21%    +16.74    +5%    0

Top 5 Owners                                      +/-    E
William Rucker (11%)    10-62    16%     -9.50    +5%    0
John P McManus (17%)	10-74	 14%	 -4.68    -2%    0
Walters Plant (22%)      9-42    21%     +9.77    -1%    0
David Brace (12%)	 7-32	 22%	+20.00   +10%    1    
Walters & Potter (20%)   6-16    38%     +6.07   +18%    0

Upcoming fixtures
Saturday 5 April 2025

Forthcoming Racecourse Templates
Exeter Sunday 23 March 2025

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.

WINNING FAVOURITES: Chepstow is a punter friendly racecourse. The last 5 years show 201 winning favourites from 526 races for 38.21% (-33.84) so around +5% above the national average. Non-handicap winning favourites score 100-216 for 46% whilst handicap winning favourites score 101-310 for 33% for a 13% differential. Best category are non-handicap hurdle favourites scoring at 75-148 for 51% (+2.67), whilst worst category are handicap hurdle favourites scoring 38-136 for 28% (-31.28)

TRAINERS: Paul Nicholls (25%) has 4 runners including CHIQUE ANGEL 3.30, TOUQUET 4.40, FORTUNATE FELLA 5.15 & CALVINO 5.45 and is more likely than not will saddle a winner. Stop at a winner?

Evan Williams (11%) has 3 runners including JACKSON'S BAY 2.20, PUDDLESINTHEPARK 2.55 & MELTON MOSSY 5.15.

Fergal O'Brien (18%) has 2 runners in the same race with PUT A LID ON IT & HARD AS NAILS 3.30

JOCKEYS: Harry Cobden (23%) is top jockey at the course and scores at 28% so a big +5% above his national average. He has 3 rides for Nicholls including CHIQUE ANGEL 3.30, TOUQUET 4.40 & CALVINO 5.45

Sam Twiston-Davies (15%) has ridden 98 winners this season and will be looking to score his ninth ton for the season. He is currently 0-29 over the past 10 days and one imagines him being frustrated. Cannot see him riding a winner today from PEPPER QUEEN 3.30 or CAMPS BAY 5.15, but we note he has some interesting rides on Friday (3) and Saturday (6) at Newbury. The advice is filter and follow his rides from here.

OWNERS: Of the top 5 trainers at the course, only David Brace (12%) has a runner in GATS AND CO 4.05. He scores 22% at Chepstow so +10% above his national average. Connor Brace (13%) rides and the team have a genuine place chance.

2.20: Ashcroft Services Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) 2m

• • Favourites 28%
  • MY FRIEND SEAN (T Lacey) beaten favourite last time out when racing too early and form since franked, top weight now seeking 3 from 4, Cameron Isles (3) rides
  • REMARKABLE FLIGHT (J Candlish) comfortable winner in the last 7 days, improver and this track might suit, Lewis Saunders

2.55: Glidevale Protect Handicap Chase (Class 5) 2m7½f

• • Favourites 36%
  • UNSPEAKABLE (C Williams) posted very good effort last time out, trainer 20% in spring. Jack Tudor rides
  • JESSMAE (H Oliver) trainer +£35.20 when one runner on the card (chases), fair 3 of 6 in Market Rasen handicap chase 30 days ago, Lee Edwards rides
  • PUDDLESINTHEPARK (E Williams) Scored at Hereford in February, has won on good ground, yet to be asked for effort when unseated rider 5 out in Ffos Las chase 20 days ago. Adam Wedge rides

3.30: Stephens Industries Elevate EPDM Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (Class 4) 2m

• • Favourites 51%
  • HARD AS NAILS (F O'Brien) beaten favourite last time out, better judged on her penultimate 2nd at Newcastle when only beaten a length. Jack Hogan (3) rides
  • CHIQUE ANGEL (P Nicholls) Seemingly stretched by 21f on heavy ground when a remote 4th on hurdle debut. Could leave that form well behind back at shorter on good ground. Harry Cobden rides

4.05: Treforest Tiling 52nd Anniversary Handicap Chase (Class 4) 3m6½f

• • Favourites 36%
  • TWILIGHT GLORY (T Vaughan) won back-to-back handicaps here last winter, stepped up on reappearance when recording a second success at Lingfield in December. Has won on good ground, Alan Johns rides
  • POTTLERATH (M Sheppard) weighted to win 108 > 91, trainer +£26.67 when one runner on the card. Stan Sheppard rides
  • STELLAR STREAM (K Woollacott) came up against one well ahead of his mark in Katate Dori here in January, combination of step back up in trip and new headgear could prove to be a winning recipe. Callum Pritchard (5) rides

4.40: Don & Low Champions Cup Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) 2m3½f

• • Favourites 28
  • COPPER JACK (A Charlton) drops from Class 3 to Class 5, first time tongue strap. Possible improver on handicap debut following a wind operation. Callum Pritchard (5) rides
  • SERGEANT FURY (H Derham) in form trainer, Brendan Powell rides and 40% on hurdling favourites
  • GREENROCK ABBEY (K Lee) Not best judged on most recent effort when making a bad mistake, potentially well-treated if return to hurdles/first-time blinkers can spark a revival. Adam Wedge rides

5.15: Raising The Roof / SIG Roofing Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) 2m7½f

• • Favourites 28%
  • FIVE QUARTERS (K Woollacott) placed in maidens at Taunton and Chepstow, this step up in trip can help on handicap debut. Joshua Newman (5) rides
  • FORTUNATE FELLA (P Nicholls) hails from a leading yard, could easily prove a different proposition now handicapping up in trip. Ben Bromley (5) rides
  • KEPPEL QUEEN (J &A O'Neill) runner-up in all 3 handicap hurdles, including C&D. Another bold show is on the cards, Benjamin Macey (7) rides

5.45: Core Hereford Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 5) 2m

• • Favourites 36%
  • CALVINO (P Nicholls) €130,000 Walk In The Park gelding, given time and potential improver, drops from Class 3 to Class 5, Harry Cobden rides
  • HURRICANE PAT (G & J Moore) drops from Class 2 to Class 5, looked good prospect when landing good-ground Sandown bumper in November. Much softer ground seemed to stretch him when 3rd there last month, big player back on a sounder surface. Freddie Mitchell (5) 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