2:30 Chepstow – Docpickedme 11/2
5:20 Chepstow – Stanley Pincombe 14/1 E/W
Docpickedme
A useful novice hurdler last season, it was only a matter of time before Docpickedme transitioned to fences. His point to point victory reads well, with Patroclus (2nd, rated 129), Gaston Phebus (3rd, rated 129) and Carrolls Cottage (4th, rated 130 in Ireland) giving the race plenty of substance. While point to point form doesn’t always translate to the track, it would be disappointing if Docpickedme couldn’t prove better than a mark of 118 now switched to chasing.
Well supported on his handicap hurdle debut four weeks ago, he shaped as if in need of the run and with Harry Whittington noting before the season begun that chasing was the plan, it’s likely that he’ll have improved plenty for his seasonal reappearance.
By Getaway, there is an abundance of stamina in his pedigree and so this staying trip on a sound surface should be ideal and a bold run is expected.
Harry Whittington has a respectable 20% strike rate with his chase debutants while he’s also two from two with his runners at Chepstow making their debuts over the larger obstacles.
Stanley Pincombe
Given some very favourable mentions before the start of the season, Stanley Pincombe wasn’t without support on his most recent start but like so many of Chris Gordon’s, ended up looking in desperate need of the run. In fact, he ran on the same card as Lord Baddesley who I will be very interested in next time out.
His trainer reported that he had “come on massively” for his very promising debut last season and I find it interesting that they’ve come back for another bumper; perhaps they feel that there’s unfinished business in this sphere as Chris Gordon wouldn’t be one to over expose his horses in this discipline. He’s also 1/1 with bumper horses at Chepstow.
Fergus Gillard is a good booking for this conditional/amateurs race and although some big yards are represented here, Stanley Pincombe has experience and fitness on his side and so represents a good E/W bet given how well the yards horses were going at Cheltenham.
overandclear.com 