Chepstow Review

There was some excellent action at Chepstow on Wednesday with four novice hurdles amongst the eight race card. The star of the show was Sober Glory who comfortably won the second division of the two miles maiden hurdle. The winning pointer was unbeaten in three bumpers last term, including a Listed contest at Newbury in February. Reappearing over the minimum trip, the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White trained runner was positively ridden and never looked like being headed. Stretching away in the homestraight, he crossed the line a dozen lengths in front. At the risk of nitpicking, the Mount Nelson gelding edged to his left late on but that may have been due to the fact the runners bypassed what should have been the final flight (due to the stricken Forward Thinking). His connections suggested afterwards the five year old is likely to remain over two miles for the time being. It will be interesting to see where he heads next. The Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown in early January would have been ideal but it no longer exists - the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree has replaced it and I am not convinced the tight turns of the Mildmay track would suit him. I suspect he will be even better over further and view him as a Turners Novices' Hurdle prospect.

Dan Skelton had to wait until the bumper at the end of the meeting before entering the winners' enclosure courtesy of debutant Sea The Day. However, he unleashed some promising youngsters earlier on the card including Carlenrig and Double Measure who both finished second. Neither were subjected to hard races with Harry Skelton wisely choosing not to use his whip in the closing stages. The first named had won a UK point last winter before being bought privately and now sports the Highclere Thoroughbred silks. Beaten three lengths in division one of the two miles three maiden hurdle, he stayed on well behind Sam Thomas' winner Rocking Man with fourteen lengths back to the third. In the second division, Double Measure failed by less than a length to reel in the more experienced The Blue Room with a further twenty five lengths to the bronze medal. It won't be long before the pair go one better.