'He could be the class angle' - read Graeme Rodway's take on this tough handicap

Monday: 1.00 Chepstow
Go Racing With Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle | 2m7½f | 4yo+ | Sky

It looks like we could be set for a clash of the generations at Chepstow as the 11-year-old Auenwirbel takes on market rivals Kenyan Cowboy and Red Lion Lad, who are both five years his junior.

Auenwirbel kept on well for third over this trip at Uttoxeter last month and may be a stronger stayer than Kenyan Cowboy, who was also third over 2m6f at the same track last time. His half-brother Beneficial Joe did get three miles and three furlongs, though.

David Pipe won this race last year with Little Red Lion, owned by Caroline Tisdall, and she has a share in Pipe's runner this time around, the similarly named Red Lion Lad.

Red Lion Lad beat the now 123-rated hurdler Thunder Rock by ten lengths off level weights in his sole Irish point for trainer Colin Bowe, and that came over three miles on soft to heavy going.

Thunder Rock has won three out of five since joining Olly Murphy while Red Lion Lad is without a win in five runs for Pipe, but Red Lion Lad is well handicapped off just 110 judged on that one piece of point form and this is just his second start over a staying trip under rules.

He has yet to run over further than 2m4f over hurdles, and his sole run over 3m came over fences at Ffos Las 12 days ago when he unseated his rider at the seventh.

He sneaks in at the top of the weights on his return to hurdles and could be the class angle in the race.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Rabski
He's up in trip but needs to step up on his run at Warwick last time. Prior to that he'd made the frame and he goes there with an each-way shout.

Rabski: shoulders top weightCredit: Pool

Evan Williams, trainer of Caswell Bay
He needs to bounce back to a bit of form, but he likes Chepstow and will enjoy some decent cut in the ground. He's down in class and up in trip, but we'll give it another go.

Henry Oliver, trainer of Hard To Forget
Things didn't pan out for him last time, but he'd acquitted himself well before that and there's no reason why he can't be thereabouts. He's on a fair enough mark and seems bright and well in himself at home.

Richard Rowe, trainer of Delgany Monarch
This is a lot easier race than when he was in against Ardhill at Ascot last time, and unless there are any hidden improvers in there, I expect him to run very well. I think the trip will suit and I expect the proper soft ground to be in his favour, as at Ascot it was a bit tacky.

Neil King, trainer of Kenyan Cowboy
He's shown all his best form around Chepstow and there's no reason why he shouldn't be in the shake-up again. I ran him in a novice there the time before last, which was a bit bold of me, but he ran well at Uttoxeter last time and goes there in good shape.

Laura Young, trainer of Auenwirbel
He's a consistent sort who goes there with every chance, but he just needs the pace and everything to drop right for him. He's an 11-year-old now so we try and keep him interested by keeping him wide in his races which seems to suit.
Reporting by David Milnes

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