Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Chepstow

We head to Chepstow today, where a minimum £100,000 is in the Placepot fund. Also, there was no winner of the Jackpot yesterday, which means £226,327.05 has rolled into today’s Jackpot. Here are my recommended Placepot Tips plus my Jackpot Tips which can be found at the bottom of the piece.

Leg 1 Selections: L’astroboy

L’ASTROBOY ran a really eye-catching race when a staying-on second to Tahmuras in a Grade 1 last time, a horse he had beaten on debut and this a significant ease in grade. That is easily the best form on offer and it’s interesting to see his connections take up this race instead of the Supreme at Cheltenham, where he held an entry. He is a potential high-class horse and should have little difficulty in landing the opener. 

Leg 2 Selections: Skinflint, Dentley De Mee

SKINFLINT was rewarded for his model of consistency when scoring very easily at this course last time, where jumped really well and scored by an easy 10 lengths. He has been hit with a 10 pound rise and the combination of testing ground over this longer trip will ask more of his metal but he still enters calculations and has a chance. 

DENTLEY DE MEE is very well-handicapped based upon historical form and has performed well in each of his three starts this season. He has actually gone close in each of them and although his mark has continued to creep back up, Venetia Williams 10-year-old will relish conditions on this course. He is a definite for the ticket. 

Leg 3 Selections: Inflexible, Shomen Uchi

Moving onto leg 3, INFLEXIBLE ran with credit on both starts in France in heavy ground and made a nice prospect from the Nicky Henderson stable pull out all of the stops when a close-up second on his stable debut back in November. 

He wasn’t in the same form at Hereford next time but retains potential and is Tom George’s only runner on card. The slight reduction in trip from last time will suit and this could be a good opportunity for him to open his account. SHOMEN UCHI went close last time and is feared most.

Leg 4 Selections: Marada, Malakhana, Terresita

In leg 4, Dan Skelton’s MARADA progressed well over hurdles a couple of seasons ago and while her two starts this term haven’t offered much encouragement, she was second to Martello Sky in a better race than this two seasons ago off only a two pound lower mark and could make the frame if able to get back to that form.

Since has subsequently undergone wind surgery, that could be the catalyst towards a possible revival, which is needed. While MALAKHANA won four times over hurdles last year and wasn’t disgraced in a Listed event last time. This is easier and she could be competitive now back in calmer waters. TERRESITA isn’t out of this either. 

Leg 5 Selections: Sail Away, Jetoile

Dan Skelton’s SAIL AWAY has been off since winning last May but has previously gone well fresh and he has chased home some good horses in his career already, including the likes of Corach Rambler and Dusart, which reads well. He acts on testing conditions and could be too good for these if returning at his best. 

JETOILE was second in a Grade 1 over hurdles behind the Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill and has ran well in most of his chase starts, although his latest fourth was below-par. This is easier though, so I’ll be surprised if one of these two doesn’t win this small-field contest. I think they are the best two horses in the race. 

Leg 6 Selections: After The Fox, Iron Horse, Discko Des Plages, Kap Chidley

A stampede of runners for leg 6, with many in with chances but the Jane Williams-trained AFTER THE FOX has shaped quite well in each of his three starts this term and makes his chase debut off a mark of 88, which is essentially four pounds lower mark than when scoring over hurdles here last year. 

That remains his latest success, which incidentally came on soft ground, and this isn’t a strong race. If the switch to the bigger obstacles work the oracle, he could go very well at huge odds. IRON HORSE ran well when second last time and cannot be discounted, while chase debutant KAP CHIDLEY and DISCKO DES PLAGES also warrant inclusion.