Knappers Hill and Allmankind headline 16 entries for the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
3rd October 2022 – Not since Taranis in 2006 has Paul Nicholls won the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow but his six-year-old Knappers Hill, who won as a novice hurdler at this meeting last year, could change that on Saturday.
Knappers Hill is Nicholls’ sole entrant in the race, which could be a sign that he is a likely runner for Ditcheat in a race where almost £40,000 is on offer to the winner.
Allmankind is another horse with previous winning form at Chepstow. He has been entered by Dan Skelton along with stablemates Proschema and West To The Bridge. Exciting second-season novice hurdlers Broomfield Burg, Gentleman At Arms, Zabeel Champion and Thunder Rock have all been given entries too in a race where horses with such unexposed profiles tend to do well.
In the following contest, the Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow 4-Y-O Hurdle, there are 17 entries from all the top British stables and even one entry from top Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien who has recent Killarney winner Bella Scintilla engaged.
Course-and-distance winner Grivetana has been entered by Paul Nicholls, while the consistent Addosh will hope to bounce back from a fall last time out for the Stuart Edmunds yard. Bagheera Ginge is chasing a hat-trick of victories and could make his handicap bow for Nigel Twiston-Davies who won this in 2019 with Torpillo. That horse carried the silks of Simon Munir & Isaac Souede who could be represented this year by the Nicky Henderson trained Impulsive One.
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing have enjoyed a wonderful year on the flat and will hope to carry that success over into the National Hunt sphere. Both Restitution and Coolnaugh Haze have been entered in this race forthe syndicate by trainers Philip Hobbs and Alan King.
In the Dunraven Windows Novices' Chase, due off at 2.52pm, McFabulous is yet another potential runner for Paul Nicholls and his
entry in this race goes alongside his entry on Friday where Thyme Hill is amongst his potential opposition.
Saturday’s race has received another healthy bunch of entries this year and alongside the likes of McFabulous could be Pull Again Green who looked smart at the end of last season. Cobbler’s Dream was runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival in March and is very likely to be declared for Ben Case who recently earmarked this race as an early season starting point for his stable star.
Case said: “He will go novice chasing and if we can get a school into him on grass I’m hoping he’ll run at Chepstow in October.
"There’s a Listed novice chase over 2m3f and I’d like to start him there. We’re very much looking forward to going over fences.”
Sebastopol, whose trainer Tom Lacey won this last year with Tea Clipper, has both previous chasing experience and winning course form to his name. Rated 148, he is the best of the three horses entered in the race with form over fences already to their name, with Stepney Causeway and Dazzling Glory having something to prove in this company.
The seven-race card is set to begin at 1.42pm with the Champion Hats Juvenile Hurdle, a race which has unearthed some smart types down the years. TheChepstow Construction Equipment Open National Hunt Flat Race is the final race of the day and is due off at 5:12pm.
Presentandcounting and Quid Pro Quo feature among 14 entries for the Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle
1st October 2022 – The Donald McCain-trained eight-year-old Presentandcounting is one of the headline names among 14 runners who have been entered in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (G2) at Chepstow next Friday, with almost £29,000 on offer to the winner of the race on the first day of the Unibet Jumps Season Opener.
The son of Presenting is chasing a fourth consecutive career success after he turned what looked a competitive race at Worcester into a procession last time out to win by 10-lengths over fixed brush hurdles.
Also entered are Quid Pro Quo, who is two from two since he was sent hurdling by Dan Skelton. The six-year-old is joined by the likes of stablemate Gentle Connections, the thriving Mortlach, Hector Javilex, Scipion and Outlaw Peter whose trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race a record eight times.
In the following Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase at 2.50pm, a small but stellar field of six entries have been received and the Ryanair Stayer’s Hurdle winner Thyme Hill has been given an entry bytrainer Philip Hobbs who recently issued a positive update about his stable star’s ability in schooling over the larger obstacles.
Hobbs said: “"He's been really good. He schooled at the end of the season before last as we weren't sure what he was going to do but he's always jumped very well. Last season, he had a great campaign but he did so without winning a race which is always frustrating."”
This is always a meeting Paul Nicholls targets at the start of every National Hunt season and this year is no different with both McFabulous & Flash Collonges entered for the team at Ditcheat. McFabulous looked a classy sort when he won the Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle on this card in 2020 by three-lengths and could be an exciting prospect over fences.
The field at the five-day entry stage are completed by Art Approval, Twig who has the benefit of a recent run and Press Your Luck for the Chris Gordon yard.
11 horses have been entered in the Professor Caroline Tisdall Supports Heroic Jumpers Veterans' Handicap Chase, which is due off at 1.35pm. Lostintranslation would undoubtedly be one of the star names on show were he to take up his entry with similar comments applying to former Ladbroke Trophy winner De Rasher Counter. The race was won last year by Some Chaos who features among the entries once again. Former high-class staying hurdler If The Cap Fits has been entered by new trainer David Pipe who also has the Judith Wilson-owned Al Roc engaged.
The seven-race card is set to begin at 1.00pm with the finale at 4:35pm.
About Chepstow Racecourse
Chepstow Racecourse opened its gates in the early 1920's and has since blossomed into a bustling track that is home to the Welsh Grand National. From just a pretty park, this venue is now home to racing fixtures and music events throughout the year, as well as being available to hire for weddings, conferences and events.
For further information please contact:
Sam Cone, Arena Racing Company on 07920 404296 or SCone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk
Hugo Barran, JSC Communications on 07786 913215 or hugo@jsccomms.co.uk
