UK Horse Racing Tips: Chepstow

SEASTON SPIRIT arrives in excellent form, proving his Lingfield success at the beginning of last month was no fluke when scoring comfortably again at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. A 10lb rise in the weights will obviously make life tougher for the Kayf Tara gelding, but he's difficult to get away from in his present mood and makes more appeal than chase debutant Springfield Fox and Tea Time On Mars.
Prediction : 1st Seaston Spirit 2nd Springfield Fox 3rd Tea Time On Mars

EDEN DU HOUX looked a very exciting prospect last season when winning a Listed bumper at Ascot, but we didn't seem him in the spring and he's disappointed in two starts over hurdles this term. However, connections tried him in a tongue-tie at Cheltenham last time, suggesting he may have been struggling with his breathing, so a subsequent wind operation may have done the trick and this is a very winnable novice hurdle as he bids to get his career back on the right track. Mario De Pail and Shantou Vow are penalised for victories at Kelso and Southwell respectively and both warrant respect.
Prediction : 1st Eden Du Houx 2nd Mario De Pail 3rd Shantou Vow

Walk In The Mill beat the subsequent Classic Chase winner Kimberlite Candy when notching his second victory in the Becher at Aintree last month. Robert Walford's talented gelding has to be respected reverting to hurdles, but the Grand National is the plan for him so Mercian Knight and BLACKJACK KENTUCKY are preferred. The latter gets the nod because he lines up in receipt of 7lb from Amy Murphy's gelding and is officially rated 7lb superior. Paul Nicholls' charge has finished second here the last twice behind the likes of The Big Breakaway and Jepeck, both subsequent winners, and that form leaps off the page.
Prediction : 1st Blackjack Kentucky 2nd Mercian Knight 3rd Walk In The Mill

Indian Brave has been knocking on the door and is likely to show up well again, while Never Learn can leave his comeback run over hurdles well behind now switching back to fences. However, in a muddling event, a chance is taken on ON THE ROAD. Representing last year's winning trainer, this gelding has been running well over both fences and hurdles and blinkers replacing cheekpieces, which have been worn on his last three starts, could eke out that extra bit of improvement needed to score.
Prediction : 1st On The Road 2nd Indian Brave 3rd Never Learn

LE CAMELEON stepped up on three promising efforts when readily winning his maiden over 2m here and Nick Williams' charge potentially looks a fair bit better than this mark of 120. Going up in trip shouldn't bother him and he will take some stopping. Valse Au Taillons was a decent third over 2m here last time and merits respect lining up off an unchanged mark, while Wayfinder completes the shortlist on his debut in handicap company.
Prediction : 1st Le Cameleon 2nd Valse Au Taillons 3rd Wayfinder

CAVOK showed a good attitude when scoring on her chase debut at Uttoxeter in December and the extra couple of furlongs could bring about further improvement from Ben Pauling's mare. Bob Ford has been fairly consistent in three outings this season and is of interest with his rider able to use his 5lb claim on this occasion compared to his fourth at Warwick, while Shaughnessy may benefit from a stiffer test of stamina based on his recent effort at Taunton.
Prediction : 1st Cavok 2nd Bob Ford 3rd Shaughnessy

Carole's Templer boasts a smart pedigree, being out of Grade 1-placed chaser Carole's Legacy, and any market support would have to be noted on his racecourse bow, with his dam having also won a Listed bumper. Unohu won nicely at Newcastle on his debut but the form of that contest hasn't worked out particularly well and he might struggle to give weight to DRIFT ROCK. Fourth on his first start in a C&D bumper, he shaped with plenty of encouragement and is unlikely to be fazed by more testing conditions. Others to note include Threeunderthrufive, who finished second to a smart type at Plumpton in November, and The Hoax.
Prediction : 1st Drift Rock 2nd Caroles Templer 3rd Threeunderthrufive