Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Take Josh to Boss Silver Trophy again
William Hill ambassador takes the wraps off the new Jumps season with a preview of three days of strong action at Chepstow.
While it’s a bit of a drip feed start to the season this month, with the racing getting more and more competitive as the winter closes in, Chepstow is definitely one of the main starting points and it’s exciting to get going.
At this meeting with the dry weather we’re having, you’re looking for horses that handle quicker ground conditions, and that go well fresh or have had a run already.
Bet on Horse Racing at William Hill
Chepstow, Friday
I’d be against Le Milos in the Veterans’ Chase (3:12pm) because of the fact he doesn’t have an amazing record when fresh and he might need a run or two to hit his best form. COURTLAND comes here having had a run last month and being campaigned over the summer. He was second to Ballysax Hank in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. While he was a little disappointing at Worcester last time, a return to his Market Rasen form would make him the one to beat.
The Persian War (3:43pm) is the big race on the opening day at Chepstow. MONEYGARROW created a good impression last season in several bumpers, including when behind Windbeneathmywings at Ascot. The time of that race was strong, so it looked like a good effort. He was a winner at this meeting last season and while he doesn’t have hurdles experience, he has won a point-to-point. He might be capable of a big run first time out.
Chepstow, Saturday
I like DEEP CAVE in the Native River Handicap Chase (2:45pm). He was a winner of a chase at Compiegne and then fell twice over fences at Auteuil when trained in France. Last season, when joining Christian Williams, he finished off with a win in a competitive handicap hurdle at Aintree in April. He has experience over fences but is still unexposed over the larger obstacles and to me he looks the horse with the most potential on his Aintree form. Christian Williams will have him well schooled, and if his jumping stands up, he should go well.
JOSH THE BOSS won the Silver Trophy (3:20pm) last year off a three-pound lower mark under Jamie Neild. That was a good performance, and he obviously goes well fresh. His form tailed off after winning this last year, as was the case the season before, so this could be the time to catch him. He should have a good chance once again.
GIBBS ISLAND (4:00pm) ran very free and was pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle and then disappointed at Aintree. However, before that he beat Give It To Me Oj when winning well at Haydock, and that rival has won five of his six starts since then. On that form, he’d be the one for me.
Chepstow, Sunday
In the Welsh Champion Hurdle (3:17pm), CELTIC DINO would be my pick. He had some good early season form last year, winning at Wincanton and Ascot. He was well beaten on soft ground in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and then didn’t look to enjoy going right-handed at Kempton next time, but I can forgive both those efforts, as he finished off the season well at Aintree. He’s trained and owned locally, so this is sure to have been a target.
