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Chepstow 3.10
Noverre To Hide and Compton Blue are open to more improvement than most but another yet to fully show her hand is Now. She may need this reappearance (holds an entry at Lingfield on Friday) but the booking of Jim Crowley, who has a good record for the yard, suggests she is probably straight enough to do herself justice. She should stay further than six furlongs so it was disappointing to see her struggle over 7/8 furlongs in her last two Maidens. However they came in softer ground and she may appreciate the return to better conditions today. She wouldn't be of much interest judged on those two performances but it would be a different story if her debut is taken into account. She was 6/10 over today's trip on good ground at Goodwood in a Maiden which has worked out quite well. She enters handicap company on a mark of 62 and, while that gives nothing away on evidence to date, there is plenty of scope for her to improve. Although she was a big price on her debut her jockey never allowed her an easy time and the booking of a strong pilot today suggests he will do likewise. The yard have not been finding winning easy so far this season but their horses have been running well lately.
Selection NOW. 1 point E/W @ 14/1 (Betfred and Sportingbet)
Chepstow 3.40
Three non runners (so far) haven't helped the price of Dancing Storm but she still makes plenty of appeal. She looked in need of her reappearance at Nottingham and has slipped the few pounds down the handicap she needs to get her head back in front. She goes well at this track having disappointed just once in six outings, winning twice. Her racing style should soon see her in an advantageous prominent position and her jockey today seems to get the best out of her. She is versatile regarding ground conditions and represents a yard whose horses are in reasonable form and who have recorded 13-14% strike rates with their turf horses over the past two seasons. At a much bigger price Takaamul may be worth an interest. He hasn't been seen over a mile very often but he won over it on the A/W in Jan. 2008. He has been in good form on the polytrack in his last two outings and he had form on turf in his early days in Ireland. He looks reasonably handicapped on his very low mark if the switch to grass appeals to him.
Selection DANCING STORM. 2 point win @ 13/2 (Sportingbet and William Hill)
Selection TAKAMUL. 1 point E/W @ 20/1 (Sportingbet) 2nd 18/1 ;D
Chepstow 4.40
In a very open race it doesn't take much imagination to see Bold Cross going well at a biggish price. His fitness has to be taken on trust but he went well on his reappearance in 2007 and ruined his chances by rearing at the stalls last season. He picked up three handicaps last season but still finds himself a pound below his last winning mark. A winner of five of his forty races he has been placed in a further eight. He has work to do to turn September form round with Ghost Dancer but he can be better than that and he makes more appeal at the relevant prices. He has a mixed bag of results at this track but the fact he has run well here proves he handles the undulations.
Selection BOLD CROSS. 1 point E/W @ 16/1 (Boylesports) 1st 10/1
Exeter 6.20
Selection LINE ARTIC. 2 point win @ 7/1 (Skybet) 1st 15/2
Exeter 6.50
It won't be easy to return to form in a decent race like this but Boomerang could do just that after blowing away the cobwebs back from a break last time out. That was the first time he has been seen over hurdles since running in a Grade Three Novice Handicap 14 months ago but that form and a couple of previous Novice efforts suggest he is not badly handicapped today. He is relatively unexposed over today's sort of tripm and handles fast ground. He disappointed in his only previous trip to this track but that came in soft ground and is best forgiven. The yard are in good form and have a cracking 28% strike rate at this track.
Selection BOOMERANG. 1 point E/W @ 18/1 (Victor Chandler and William Hill)
Catterick 7.05
Selection ARIZONA JOHN. 1 point win @ 11/1 (General)
Selection MEY BLOSSOM. 1 point win @ 11/1 (Skybet)