The Chepstow Jump Season Opener is a two-day meeting that acts at the traditional curtain-raiser for the core part of the National Hunt season in horse racing. It begins with an eight-race card on Friday, 11 October in South Wales.
Headlining the opening day is the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle that often produces horses to follow over the smaller obstacles. As the home of the Welsh Grand National, horse racing betting sites also look carefully at the Veterans’ Chase containing old favourites on this card. This is our preview for the Friday of a meeting that always proves informative for punters.
Chepstow Jump Season Opener Friday Preview
1:35 – 2m Novice Hurdle Division I
The bumper form posted by FARLAND augurs well now he’s sent jumping. Trainer Paul Nicholls likes to get off to a flyer at this meeting and the 2023 Goffs Defender Bumper fourth put in improved efforts after leaving Ireland and his raccourse debut during the Punchestown Festival behind him.
Farland, a five-year-old son of Getaway out of an Old Vic mare, ran a close second to Union Avenue, the best of the British in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper, at Aintree in December. He then made it third time lucky in bumpers with a February victory at Fakenham. Like many from that sphere, Farland will need further in time but he’s an obvious starting point here.
There’s the usual mix of Flat converts, graduates from the Point-to-Point field and ex-bumper horses in the line-up. Dan and Harry Skelton team up with the once-raced French import Beau Quali, but a more interesting runner here could be Rebecca Curtis inmate Ben Solo.
The latter is an Irish Point winner, who beat Perth novice scorer and last month’s Kelso second Kandor between the flags. Ben Solo ran third on his Rules debut in a Wincanton bumper when only beaten by a couple of lengths. It’s collateral form from his Point that relates to a Persian War runner which only adds to the intrigue.
2:10 – 2m Novice Hurdle Division II
Le Fauve wasn’t disgraced when fifth in a Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham, then only found subsequent Flat winner and Newbury Autumn Cup third Ithaca’s Arrow too good at Newbury in March. Although a four-race maiden, all that experience stands him in good stead.
Haydock bumper winner French Ship held a speculative entry in the Persian War, but starts life off over hurdles in this instead. Trained by the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White partnership, he only made his racecourse bow in February but improved with each outing in bumpers. The third home on Merseyside, Letterston Lily, has won three times since including twice in this sphere.
Clap Of Thunder posted three placed efforts in bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies, but there is more substance to the form of Kap Boy. A course winner in a National Hunt Flat race for Nicholls at this meeting 12 months ago, the runner-up went one better first time out over hurdles.
Kap Boy then came third to Roysse, previously fourth to Aintree Grade 2 scorer Horaces Pearl, at Newbury under a penalty. The runner-up went on to victory at Hereford and the fourth home also got his head in front at Bangor.
2:45 – 2m 3.5f Mares’ National Hunt Novice Hurdle
Named after an album by The Police, Regatta De Blanc bolted up against fellow females on the Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening last time out. After doing so well for Will Biddick, who has links with Ditcheat, she may well make up into a decent hurdler and that process starts here.
There are plenty of other as yet unraced over the smaller obstacles in this line-up. Skelton has two Point winners engaged, while others have long absences to overcome. Those with hurdles experience have a fitness edge, and it’s them who look big dangers.
Although this event usually goes to an older mare, four-year-old filly Dameofthecotswolds is of interest for the Twiston-Davies team too. She made it tenth time lucky over hurdles last time, but the pick of her juvenile form reads well. Dameofthecotswolds ran third in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock and was only beaten by a neck in Premier Handicap company around Cheltenham in April.
Topweight Rockstown Girl has a 118 rating in the UK and her Sligo third isn’t too shabby form wise. The winner went in again next time out and the fourth has since made a successful bow over fences. This Irish raider could have a say in the finish with fitness on her side.
3:15 – 2m 3.5f Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle
The value in the feature race of the Chepstow Jump Season Opener first day could lie with the Welsh-trained FLYING FORTUNE. She has both experience and race fitness on her side. Peter & Michael Bowen’s five-year-old Soldier Of Fortune mare has won her last three, receives weight all-round and is clearly progressive.
Prior to victories around Market Rasen and Worcester, Flying Fortune chased home subsequent dual scorer Gale Mahler at Uttoxter. That one routed her rivals in a Listed race during the Galway Festival by 10 lengths. Flying Fortune thus looks the one to be on at 4/1 with bet365 here.
Irish raider Intense Approach is no stranger to running in Britain following success at Kelso the last day and also brings race fitness to the table. John McConnell’s five-year-old Jack Hobbs gelding stays further but didn’t always jump fluently in the Scottish Borders. Intense Approach is still a contender here.
Of those making their reappearance, Ryan’s Rocket looks a danger for Fergal O’Brien and the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate. The six-year-old son of Jet Away won his last two like Intense Approach, but those efforts came in the spring. Ryan’s Rocket represents a yard who are no strangers to saddling winners at this meeting.
Skelton had two entered, but relies on the twice-raced maiden Juventus De Brion. If replicating his latest outing from Ascot in February, then the five-year-old by Creachadoir should again beat Vincenzo, another Welsh runner in the Persian War line-up.
3:50 – 2m 7.5f Veterans’ Handicap Chase
Market Rasen specialist Francky Du Berlais is fit but has also had a busy summer. Another 11-year-old, the Bowens may well go down the Cross Country route with him again this term and he’s only up 4lb for his latest eight-length victory in Lincolnshire.
Certainly Red ran well without winning last season and frames the handicap here for Lydia Richards and regular jockey Marc Goldstein. He could have one more race in him, but it’s probably over even further and similar comments apply for veterans series newcomer Enrilo.
Copperhead won for the first time in more than four years in the spring; so, although towards the foot of the weights, doesn’t look reliable. Rebecca Curtis’ Wayfinder likes this course and distance after three wins over it in 2022, meanwhile, so has each way claims off a workable mark of 124.
4:25 – 2m 7.5f Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Isaac Des Obeaux ran on into third in a Grade 2 on Cheltenham’s Festival Trials Day over 2m 5f, so that augurs well for this longer trip over fences. In-behind him here in December was Haiti Couleurs, who placed in two Irish Points and meets his old rival off 9lb better terms.
Kim Bailey’s yard won this 12 months ago with subsequent Ultima hero Chianti Classico, so Destroytheevidence is worth a second look. He placed in two Albert Bartlett Trials last term and could make up into an even better chaser.
G A Henty and Moon Hunter bring experience of fences to the table lower down the handicap, which has Irish raider Sea Music framing it. Lord Snootie is perhaps the best of the remainder for local trainer Christian Williams on his form in staying handicaps.
5:00 – 2m Handicap Hurdle
He clearly prefers a more undulating track and runs off his last winning mark from Ascot last November. Then, as now, Gin Coco may have found a good opportunity to get his head in front, especially eased in grade to Class 3 company.
Onemorefortheroad has race fitness on his side and didn’t convince as a chaser last term, so reverts to hurdles and goes down in trip after a Newton Abbot second the last day. Neil King’s nine-year-old is 3lb below his last successful mark in this sphere.
Soaring Glory won a novice over course and distance at this meeting four years ago, but it’s hard to ignore the fact he has dropped to a career low rating of 129. The others have lengthy racecourse absences to overcome and/or a lot on their plate here.
