Who To Follow At Chepstow On Friday - 08/10/21

Chepstow 12:00

Knappers Hill

Harry Cobden

Paul Nicholls

Age: 5

Weight: 10-12

OR: N/A

Days: 181

Our horse to follow at Chepstow comes in the two mile Novices' Hurdle and the horse that we have a key eye on is the Paul Nicholls trained Knappers Hill.

The five year old gelding last season was a bit of a superstar in bumpers winning all three of his events in good style, justifying his price tag of 155,000gns.

Starting his career off in October at Chepstow, he was a seven length winner on this card and then went to Ascot off the back of that in December and made it two from two in a much better Listed contest.

Having shown clear ability in both his starts he was sent to Aintree during the Grand National meeting and landed a hat-trick of wins in the Group Two bumper.

He sets the standard in this race and if taking to hurdles straight away he could be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Form: 111View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
11/11/23	WCN	20	GS	11-4	1
14/10/23	CHP	19.5	Sft	11-5	2
29/04/23	SAN	21.5	Sft	11-10	1
26/02/23	FON	19	Gd	11-10	3
18/02/23	WCN	15	Gd	11-10	2

12 time champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls always targets this meeting looking to get off to a good start to the official jumps season and on Friday he has some live chances.

In the first race of the day he fields hat-trick winning Knapper Hill who is making his first start over timber and looks to be a horse to keep an eye on throughout the season.

Other big chances for the handler include Threeunderthrufive on chase debut and Paso Doble who is the favourite for the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Chase.

Nicholls heads into the meeting in electric form landing two winners from his last five runner which sees him pose a strike rate of 40% for the last two weeks.

The champion jockey Harry Skelton could be set for a good first day of the jumps season with a handful of nice rides for his Brother Dan.

In the first race of the day he sits on the unraced Pikar who could be a nice type for a special yard and alongside that he then rides Hidden Heroics in the Persian War Novice's Hurdle who is not without a chance.

Skelton has been in some decent form prior to the meeting landing three of his last 17 rides which sees him running at a 17% strike rate.

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