With the dark nights setting in and drops of rain finally starting to filter in around the country, the National Hunt season proper makes its long awaited return. Chepstow’s Persian War meeting begins this weekend, and the Monmouthshire based track has treated us to many talented equine stars.
Don’t Push it won the 2007 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle, before giving AP McCoy his first Grand National winner in 2010.
Silviniaco Conti won the meeting’s flagship contest in 2010, before going on to win two King Georges, two Aintree Bowls, two Betfair Chases and an Ascot Chase among other coveted events.
Altior made his hurdles debut when a 37 length winner of the opening novice hurdle in 2015, before going on to win 10 Grade 1’s, cementing himself as one of Seven Barrows’ finest steeplechasers.
Countless other horses have kickstarted their successful campaign at Chepstow, many going on to reach the upper echelons of National Hunt success, and here are five horses this weekend to keep an eye on going forward.
Friday 14:32 Locker Boum
Nigel & Willie Twiston Davies have attacked the early campaign as they often do, with a strike rate at the time of writing of 53%. They enter Chepstow mob-handed, and field an interesting type in Locker Boum in the 2m7f novice hurdle on Friday.
The Bucks Boum gelding returned from a 223 day lay-off last November to win Kirkistown point-to-point by 18 lengths. He was left in the lead there when challenged by a subsequent final fence faller, but that was the 4/5F Diamant Dore who was an unlucky fifth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper.
He was subsequently sold for £100,000 to Dermott Owens and Willie Twiston-Davies and the Coral Gold Cup HIT/PIT Sales, though failed to make a good start on rules debut when a distant fourth in a Haydock bumper. The yard waste no time stepping him up in trip for hurdles debut, and he looks a promising individual for the staying ranks.
Friday 3:43 North Shore
It’s rather surprising that Dan Skelton hasn’t won the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, but he fields an interesting new recruit to the yard in North Shore.
Formerly with Gavin Cromwell in Ireland, North Sure hit the frame twice in Graded company last season behind Narcisco Has catching the eye on both occasions, before a midfield finish in the Triumph Hurdle.
He got off the mark in a Killarney Maiden Hurdle in May, and could be one Dan Skelton plots for the handicaps this season. The yard had Moneygarrow make his hurdles debut in this contest last year before winning twice subsequently, and his season culminated in the Albert Bartlett.
Given he’s predominately flat-bred, I would suggest he’d be kept to shorter trips as opposed to Moneygarrow and perhaps he’s one we could see in the County Hurdle in March.
13:35 Saturday Confused
Some smart juveniles have won this opening contest on Saturday in the past, notably Dolos in 2016 who would peak at a mark of 161 during his career.
Faye Bramley had an excellent season last term at AP McCoy’s Lodge Stables, and Confused looks a promising sort to follow up connections’ Winston Junior in the Juvenile hurdling ranks.
The Calyx gelding made his debut when fourth to the subsequent St Leger runner up Enceladus. That was followed up by a Gowran Park Maiden success, but following a down the field effort on handicap debut, he switched hands to the Cheeky Pups syndicate for £36,000.
Calyx progeny have made a solid start over jumps, particularly with Hot Fuss who’s second in the Martin Pipe last season after his Fred Winter fourth a year prior. He’s a scopey individual, and strikes me as the type connections will do well with this season.
14:10 Saturday Treasure Planet
Paul Nicholls has won this contest with some bright sorts in the past, not least Thyme White and Diego Du Charmil, the latter a winner of the 2018 Maghull Novices’ Chase.
Treasure Planet was fourth in last season’s Persian War before an 18-length success at Ludlow. He failed to build on that performance despite some credible placed efforts, but he looks well handicapped this season off 116 particularly if following in the footsteps of Ditcheat’s former winners of the race.
16:02 Chepstow Kocktail Bleu
The Silver Trophy is always a competitive event but it can often pay to follow the form of those in behind.
I had thought Kocktail Bleu would be going chasing this season, and perhaps this is just a pipe opener particularly given the lack of suitable ground for these chasers this time of year.
The Magneticjim gelding has some excellent form in his book, finishing second to Idaho Sun in a bumper in 2025, second to the subsequent Supreme fourth Baron Noir in January, and finishing runner up in the Grade 2 Dovecote.
His season culminated with a fourth in the valuable EBF Novices’ Championship Final at Sandown which has produced many a smart chaser, and I suspect off a mark of 125 he could do some damage in handicap chases before going on to graded contest over fences this season.
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