Can Bear Ghylls return to winning ways at Chepstow? Key quotes and analysis

Tuesday: 2.30 Chepstow
BH Events And Experiences Novices' Limited Handicap Chase | 2m3½f | 5yo+ | Sky

A vintage 2021 Ballymore might receive yet another form boost on a cold Tuesday at Chepstow if Bear Ghylls can recapture the immense promise of his novice hurdle form two seasons ago.

Bear Ghylls fared best of the rest in fourth at the Cheltenham Festival behind subsequent Grade 1 winners Bob Olinger, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame. Nestled one place back in fifth was now 157-rated chaser Does He Know.

Unsighted for 592 days after the Ballymore, Bear Ghylls shaped respectably on his chasing debut in the Listed Colin Parker at Carlisle despite a couple of novicey leaps. However, he took a backwards step at Uttoxeter three weeks later when finishing seventh of eight in a 2m6½f handicap chase.

If that run came too soon there is little doubt Bear Ghylls, returning from a 58-day break, is the best-treated contender off 138 and he should get a decent pace to chase from regular front-runner Prevaricate.

The former Gordon Elliott-trained gelding makes his stable debut for Venetia Williams, who has a 12 per cent strike-rate (8-69) with new recruits, off a 303-day absence.

The stats bode well for Prevaricate as Williams has a 29 per cent strike-rate (2-7) with handicap chasers at Chepstow this season and a highly commendable 22 per cent success-rate with handicap debutants (17-77) over the last five campaigns.

If Prevaricate is fighting-fit and gets into a nice rhythm first time out, Bear Ghylls will need to be on his A-game to peg him back.

Interne De Sivola: interesting runner for Jane WilliamsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Interne De Sivola failed to negotiate the first fence when quite well backed for a televised handicap at Wincanton this month and is yet to convince in this discipline for the in-form Jane Williams, but he does have time on his side as a five-year-old. It is difficult to make credible cases for outsiders Gustavian and veteran Dans Le Vent.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Nicky Martin, trainer of Bear Ghylls
After two years off he ran very, very well on his return at Carlisle but that took its toll more than we thought as he ran flat at Uttoxeter next time. There were only 21 days between the races and he came back poorly so we gave him a break and he’s been in good order at home lately. We took him down to Philip Hobbs’s to school on his all-weather last Saturday and he went great.

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Gustavian
It would be nice to see him get off the mark over fences as his jumping has been a bit hit and miss. He’s a lovely horse and is still learning his trade and this looks the right race for him.

Evan Williams, trainer of Dans Le Vent
It’s a tight little race and if he put his best foot forward he could come back with some prize-money at the least.

Jane Williams, trainer of Interne De Sivola
He fell at the first last time and I’ve no idea why as he’s usually a super jumper, which is why he’s tackling fences at the age of five. Novices make novicey mistakes though and he’s 100 per cent ready to go again as he didn’t go very far after he fell.
Reporting by David Milnes

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