Chepstow Tips: Each-Way Treble for the 2023/24 Jump Season Opener

Captain Teague is the obvious form-horse in the Grade 2 Unibet Persian War Novices' Hurdle, who was last seen faring best of the British runners in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival when third. He could prove impossible to beat and is likely to start a warm favourite with a big season anticipated.

That said, a few of these are likely to take each other on for the lead and the most interesting participant, who I am willing to take a chance on and might get the race run to suit, is hurdle debutant LORD OF THUNDER (best price 66/1). Joe Tizzard could have found him an easier race elsewhere, so the fact he is pitched into such a deep race on his hurdles debut makes him of serious interest alone.

Clearly, he is held in pretty high regard and while he was beaten a fair way into third in his only bumper start at Stratford, that outing was only used to get some experience into him before going straight over hurdles next time. Still, he shaped very well in the interim, where he travelled best and looked the most likeliest winner before only plodding on at the one pace.

Back in March earlier this year, his connections stated they are excited about his future and my assumption is that this race has been a long-term project since his debut effort. His lack of experience is a bit of a concern but I envisaged his price to be a touch shorter. If he takes to this test well, he could easily pick up the pieces and run into the frame at least.

Chianti Classico is an interesting chase debutant, who will find this easier than when he contested Albert Bartlee last time but on a line through a horse called Longshanks, I am going to nominate MARIO DE PAIL (best price 28/1) who might have slipped under the radar at a price from what is an attractive mark ahead of his reappearance.

Formerly trained by Sam Thomas, he was a smart hurdler in which he was highly tried in the Supreme Novices Hurdle a few seasons ago. He is three pounds below his last winning mark and made a promising first start over fences when second to Grade 1 winner Pic D’Orhy at Ffos around this time two years back. His jumping has held him back since which has seen him hit the deck twice including last time.

However, he has since joined Peter Bowen, who is a trainer that is capable of getting a horse back to peak form and this eight-year-old is down to a career-low mark of 130 for this contest. He missed the whole of last season but has been given plenty of time to get over his fall last time and he goes well fresh. If he can hold it all together in the jumping department, he has the ability to figure.

One of my best bets on the card is BEFORE MIDNIGHT (best price 5/1) who is having his first start for this stable who can ready one first-time-out and has the qualities in abundance to run a huge race off a mark that is well within reach based on his chase exploits.

For the last few years he has been contesting various races ranging between class 2 and Grade 3 level and his last win came off a mark of 144 in a stronger race and he is down to 130 back over hurdles here with his rider taking off a further seven pounds.

The 10-year-old is better than this grade and his record fresh when returning from a break of six months or more reads excellent figures of 126213. The last time he ran over hurdles he chased home Aye Right and will face no horse of that one’s calibre in this field.

A few of his opponents are well-treated but the selection has plenty in his favour and comes out very well at the weights with his jockey’s claim taken into account. Mick Maestro is seen as the biggest danger but an even longer absence is a concern, so the former gets the each-way vote.