UK Horse Racing Tips: Chepstow

A cracking event to kick things off, in which DOYEN STAR could maintain his unbeaten record. He confirmed promise shown between the flags when scoring comfortably on his hurdling debut over C&D in November and there should be plenty more to come from this five-year-old. Crebilly chased home a smart gelding in the same blue and pick colours over track and trip last month and he is likely to be in the shake-up again, while Always Busy, Buckhorn Rocco and Hoe Joly Smoke add further spice to the race.
Prediction : 1st Doyen Star 2nd Crebilly 3rd Always Busy

Hipop Des Ongrais bolted up at Fontwell last time and has to be respected off an 8lb higher mark, but the lightly-raced LIMETREE BOY shades the verdict. A hurdles winner over 2m last term, he made a promising chasing/seasonal debut when third over 2m4f at Worcester in October (winner since followed up) and improvement is likely. Ballinsker can also figure prominently lining up off a 1lb lower mark than when third over C&D last month.
Prediction : 1st Limetree Boy 2nd Hipop Des Ongrais 3rd Ballinsker

Hurdle winners Heezer Geezer and Well Dick have done little wrong during their short racing careers to date and both demand respect, but INCH HOUSE may provide some value and gets the nod. This point-to-point scorer built on a promising debut over timber when third behind subsequent winner Atlanta Brave over an extended 2m3f here last month and he could improve further now stretched out in distance. State Of Power cannot be ruled out either.
Prediction : 1st Inch House 2nd Heezer Geezer 3rd Well Dick

REE OKKA went close to gaining a first success over the larger obstacles when staying on into second at Ludlow last month and the seven-year-old boasts strong credentials, especially with the addition of first-time cheekpieces. Monbeg Genius and Super Survivor won their latest outings over C&D and both went up 5lb for those victories. The pair are entitled to improve further in this discipline, while recent Exeter scorer Raddon Top is another with valid claims.
Prediction : 1st Ree Okka 2nd Monbeg Genius 3rd Super Survivor

IN REM bounced back from a fall in the London National when getting off the mark over fences at Exeter and Jane Williams' gelding, who idled in the closing stages on that occasion, appears to have further improvement to come. Fairlawn Flyer was a lucky winner at Ffos Las before Christmas, but, despite that, it was a much better display than his return to action and he could enter calculations, along with Lyrical Genius, who went close at Doncaster last month.
Prediction : 1st In Rem 2nd Fairlawn Flyer 3rd Lyrical Genius

New Found Fame drops in both distance and class following a mid-division run over 2m5f at Kempton on Boxing Day and is entitled to improve off a 1lb lower mark, but INCA DE LAFAYETTE could be worth chancing making his seasonal/handicap debut for powerful connections. No No Tonic bolted up on her most recent outing over 1m7f at Wincanton and can also have a big say.
Prediction : 1st Inca De Lafayette 2nd No No Tonic 3rd New Found Fame

A penalty for a comfortable win on his racecourse debut over this C&D in November may not be enough to stop SPIRITS BAY following up. The second from that race, Go West, has run well again since and he seems the obvious choice. Royal Defender sports a tongue-tie and is feared most, ahead of the Dan Skelton-trained Delgany Bobby Blue on his Rules bow.
Prediction : 1st Spirits Bay 2nd Royal Defender 3rd Delgany Bobby Blue