Chepstow best bets: Main threat to favourites looks to be Beyond Equal

16:05 Chepstow: John Electrics Stakes 2024 Handicap  (6 furlongs)

The bookies have course regular Howzak and Jax Edge as the most likely contenders, with the former about to make his seventh consecutive start over the South Wales track since April.

Having made the frame in three of the first four appearances, Howzak converted his penultimate outing over this very trip 24 days ago, although he subsequently disappointed when failing to land the odds over five furlongs six days ago.

Jax Edge has also enjoyed course-distance success here, albeit two years ago, and the four-year-old hit the target again over this distance last time out at Ffos Las three weeks ago.

They should both be in the mix again here, but waiting in the wings to give them something to think about is the old man in the 10-runner line-up, Beyond Equal.

Suggested best bet: Beyond Equal each-way in the 16:05 at Chepstow

It’s been 24 runs since the nine-year-old last lived up to his name, but there have been plenty of near misses along the way, two of which came in the form of back-to-back runner-up spots here and at Bath earlier this summer.

He was particularly unlucky not to reel in the 28/1 winner of the most recent of those two efforts, after being cramped for room and having to wait for a gap before finishing just a neck behind So Smart.

His seventh of eight last time out three weeks ago at Salisbury perhaps looks worse than it was, given that he was hampered at the start, and over a five furlong dash he expended too much early energy trying to get back in touch to have enough left in the final stages.

Rob Hornby was missing in that last outing, but has been on board for most of Beyond Equal’s better performances, including those two recent runner-up spots, so his return to the saddle could well prove significant in what promises to be a wide-open handicap. 

• Tip advised by Vrasidas on Tipstrr

Anyone looking for bigger-priced value deeper in the betting might do worse than have a cautious punt on David Loughnane’s three-year-old Professor Tickle.

A winner at the second attempt at Brighton last June, this promising young gelding proved equally effective during a seven-race all-weather winter campaign that yielded four frame finishes which was crowned with a tidy win over this distance at Newcastle in December.

He clearly needed the runs when finishing down the field on his two appearances over the last month, but this faster ground over his preferred trip should suit, as should the re-applied blinkers that had been discarded for those two pipe-openers.

 Outsider punt: Professor Tickle each-way in the 16:05 at Chepstow

 

 

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