There is a cracking card of jumping action at Chepstow on Sunday and the Racing Post's Dave Randall has provided his best bets.
With an average field-size of 7.4 across the seven races despite only four remaining in the novice handicap chase, there is plenty to go at.
The ground is officially described as soft, heavy in places 24 hours beforehand, with further showers possible.
2.40 Chepstow
Shomen Uchi @ 2/1
2pts win
3.15 Chepstow
Felicie Du Maquis @ 4/1
1pt win
3.15 Chepstow
Fay Ce Que Voudras @ 16/1
1pt win
5.00 Chepstow
King William Rufus @ 7/4
3pts win
Strike first with Shomen Uchi
L'Astroboy is set to represent Evan Williams under a 7lb penalty in the opening novices' hurdle (1.30) and he is thought likely to appreciate the step up to this intermediate trip after his excellent second in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.
Tzarmix and Ottoline are two unexposed sorts to consider against him, though, and it may prove prudent to give the likely odds-on favourite a watching brief on this occasion.
Plenty of inconsistent types are entered in the following 3m handicap chase (2.05) and the temptation to take a chance on Airtothethrone on the testing ground was resisted.
The first recommended bet on the Chepstow card comes in the shape of SHOMEN UCHI, who is representing Sam Thomas in the 3m maiden hurdle (2.40) with Charlie Deutsch back in the saddle.
The six-year-old won a Hereford bumper in February 2022 and finished sixth in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree that April.
He was narrowly denied when rallying into a head second after a break on his hurdling debut at Hereford in December.
The step up in trip promises to suit based on running style and breeding potential. He is a half-brother to a 3m winner and the selection is proven on a testing surface.
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Felicie and Fay the play and Rufus can be King
FELICIE DU MAQUIS and FAY CE QUE VOUDRAS are two against the field in the mares' handicap hurdle (3.15).
Felice Du Maquis is making her handicap debut off an exploitable opening mark of 123 after her decisive Warwick success under a penalty in December.
Fay Ce Que Voudras is the biggest danger if getting back to the level of form shown when winning an eventful novice handicap hurdle at Hereford in January.
Sail Away and Jetoile should have the novices' handicap chase (3.50) between them, and Discko Des Plages may bounce back from two Uttoxeter falls in the following handicap chase (4.25), but the best bet on the card is KING WILLIAM RUFUS in the concluding bumper (5.00).
He reached a fine second behind Captain Teague on his debut on soft ground at Plumpton in December.
The winner finished third in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last week, the third has won a Fontwell bumper and his stablemate Goodwin Racing in fourth has won twice since over hurdles.
