The jumps is back people – after two top days at Chepstow racecourse, they move into their final afternoon of this top three-day fixture on Sunday for a Premier Raceday.
SportsCasting’s Andy Newton is on hand to give you this thoughts and Chepstow horse racing tips on Sunday, with 1-2-3 best bets for each race.
These include the Welsh Champion Hurdle at 3:17pm, as trainer Sam Thomas looks to follow-up his win in the race last year – this time with the useful Celtic Dino.
You can also get his daily free horse racing tips, including NAP, NB and L15 selections – where this midweek he landed a 45/1 four-timer.
Chepstow Horse Racing Tips: Welsh Champion Hurdle The Feature
1:32 – Champion Equestrian Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+ 0-115) 3m2f SKY
Deep Purple, for trainer Dan Skelton, has been frustrating in his last five runs, but the return to Chepstow could help – the scene of his last win back in April.
Recent winners Hold Your Fort and My Gift To You will draw the eye, but a chance is taken on the Twiston-Davies runner SAFE DESTINATION.
This 7 year-old has won five of his 15 starts and will be much fitter for a recent run at Perth at the end of last month, which came after five months off.
The yard have been in good form in recent weeks too and jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell is good for his 6lb claim.
🥇SAFE DESTINATION
🥈DEEP PURPLE
🥉MY GIFT TO YOU
2:07 – DragonBet / EBF Mares’ National Hunt Novices Hurdle (EBF Mares NH Novices Hurdle Series Qual) (GBB) Cl3 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
Nana Noodleman and Harmony Heights have small claims, but really the Dan Skelton team will be disappointed if their SETTLE DOWN JILL can’t take this.
She showed a fair level in her many NH flat runs last season and despite being beaten at 1/2 on her hurdles debut at Market Rasen would have learned a lot from that.
It also came off around five months off and was her first outing off a wind op. While the longer trip today is also expected to suit.
🥇SETTLE DOWN JILL
🥈NANA NOODLEMAN
🥉HARMONY HEIGHTS
2:42 – Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase (Listed Race) (For The Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy) (GBB) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
Dan Skelton’s DOYEN QUEST did well over hurdles last season and made a pleasing start over fences – winning at Warwick back in May but was 1/50 in the betting.
But failed to back that up in a harder race next time at Worcester – so needs to bounce back, but the return to the longer trip here will help.
But the Skelton yard took this in 2023 with former Cheltenham Festival winner Unexpected Party and in 2018 and with his main rival Blueking d’Oroux now a non-runner – this looks a good chance for him to get back to winning ways.
Gordon Elliott’s Speculatrix gets some weight off the top two on the card and has Sean Bowen booked – he can take silver.
With the Jack Andrews-ridden Brucio for third.
🥇DOYEN QUEST
🥈SPECULATRIX
🥉BRUCIO
3:17 – DragonBet ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 2m SKY
A lot of focus will be on the Paul Nicholls runner Tutti Quanti, who was an impressive winner at Ffos Las back in April.
While Cheltenham Festival fans might remember him running 6th in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March – beaten 28 lengths.
Nicholls last won this race in 2015 with Silsol.
But a trainer that has a more recent win is Sam Thomas – winning the prize in 2024 – and he’s got CELTIC DINO this time, who is also owned by last year’s winning connections Walters Plant Hire Ltd.
Celtic Dino rose up the ranks last season with decent wins at Wincanton and Ascot and was a fair third in the G2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.
Ending his season with a close third at Aintree. Has been nudged up another 5lbs here but is a horse that has gone well fresh in the past and you feel this race would have been a big target all summer.
Of the rest, the Harry Derham yard boast a decent 36% SR with their hurdlers at the track and try to improve those stats with Balhambar.
🥇CELTIC DINO
🥈TUTTI QUANTI
🥉BALHAMBAR
3:52 – DragonBet John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
Another top race on the card with several well-known names on show.
Paul Nicholls has won this prize three times since 2016 and has a decent chance with last year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto – who is only rated 1lb higher than that win.
Dan Skelton seems to want to win this race though – with five of the nine runners and if jockey bookings are anything to go by Jet Plane looks interesting with Harry riding.
He’ll be better for a return run at Worcester in September – just getting tired in the closing stages.
Of the other Skelton runners, Unexpected Party won on this card in 2023, but is 7lbs higher this time, while Riskintheground is respected too.
Nocte Volatus has CD form here at the track too, but another that has won here is SAINT SEGAL and he can upset the Skelton party for trainer Jane Williams.
Yes, never featured in this race last year (4th beaten 17 lengths), but that was also his first run back from a wind op.
He’s won four of his 17 chase starts and been placed in the top three 11 times, so is a very consistent sort.
His first win here came back in 2022 but has run well at the Welsh venue many times since – including winning again on his last start back in April.
Is up 6lbs for that success but did it well that day to suggest there is more come.
🥇SAINT SEGAL
🥈IL RIDOTO
🥉JET PLANE
4:27 – dragonbet.co.uk Born From The Betting Ring Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (8yo+ 0-130) 2m SKY
Father of Jazz showed a lot of promise a few seasons ago but has had his issues since and returned on the flat last time with poor run at Doncaster.
Will be better for that and the James Owen team are in good form – while Harry Cobden catches the eye in the saddle.
WASHINGTON won this race last season and is back on a 10lb higher mark. The Harry Derham yard also boast a 36% SR here at the track with their hurdlers and this horse has gone well fresh in the past.
He’s taken to bounce back to winning ways, with this race sure to have been a target – with other CD winners Bubble Dubi and Bucephalus also shortlisted.
🥇WASHINGTON
🥈BUCEPHALUS
🥉FATHER OF JAZZ
5:02 – Wasdell Group Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) Cl2 (4-5yo) 2m SKY
Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race five times since 2017 and Harry Cobden has been on four of those.
Therefore, their LANCELOT D’ALENE is the call, with the yard also having a 36% SR with their NH Flat runners here.
This former Point-to-Point horse looks a nice recruit to the Nicholls camp, having been bought for €62,000 by Tom Malone in the summer.
The tongue-tie on is a small worry, but in a race we know the stable like to target he can get off the mark at the first try under rules.
Of the rest, the Skelton team won this last year and try again with Cooltobecareless – another former Pointer – while Lake Tiberias and Golden Prince are others with claims.
🥇LANCELOT D’ALENE
🥈COOLTOBECARELESS
🥉LAKE TIBERIAS
