A competitive race and the usual caveats about fitness so early in the season apply.

 

A few catch my eye here including the obvious one and well backed favourite Representing Bob who returns to Hurdles after 2 recent Chase wins, he'll take all the beating and is win saver/Tricast material if you want to play that way.

 

I'll focus though on more value in terms of price with enhanced place Odds on offer.

 

Getaway Cory has had a run for Kayley Woolacott already so should strip fitter, my concerns are the trip and also soft going but a horse to keep an eye on. Shutupshirley for Robert Walford has shown promise a couple of times at Taunton, this is a completely different Track and we have to take fitness on trust but worth a look today and definitely worth tracking for any return to Taunton in the coming months. Tactical Manouvre shot up the ratings with a 3 timer at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, off 83-90-96 seems best right handed and another who likes Taunton and Exeter in the mud, it's won again off 96, runs off 99 here and another to look at and track for any return to those tracks where it has winning form.

 

I will be interested to watch Ajays Ways for the in-form Fegal and McPherson combo as the drop to this trip is interesting for an in form Yard, and Hellos Allen who brings fitness from a French run and a decent run at Warwick last season and also Lusitanien who is interesting upped in trip for Evan Williams are also real dangers on the day.

 

I kept coming back to a pair though and fancy their each way chances to 5th place enhanced.

 

DOYEN QUEEN has had a run for Paul Hendersen, gets the assistance of Nick Schofield, a 3 mile P2P winner dropped back in trip after that seasonal debut over further and looks sure to put that fitness to good use here. KENYAN COWBOY has had his best 3 runs in terms of visual performance and rating here at Chepstow and would have a strong each way chance if fit enough first time out this season and I'm prepared to take that chance.