'There's lots to like' - which runner is fancied in the long-distance chase?

Thursday: 3.31 Chepstow
Roofbase Handicap Chase | 3m6½f | 5yo+ | Sky

It's that time of year when the ground has turned and we have several runners here who have shown their best on softer going.

Good And Hardy is a prime example. He has the best recent form but it has all come in testing conditions and his four highest Racing Post Ratings were achieved on going described as soft or heavy. It's anyone's guess whether he can reproduce that level on drier ground.

There is no guessing involved with Dancing Shadow. His three highest RPRs have come on good ground and he returns to such a surface for the first time since finishing third in a veterans' chase at the October meeting at this track.

Dancing Shadow was racing off a mark of 122 that day and competes off just 117 here, so he is fairly handicapped. The problem is that we are now another five months down the line and age isn't on his side. Will he be capable of reproducing that level now he's turned 13?

Peter Bowen's runners usually excel on decent going and he fits the dual good-ground winner Dalkingstown with blinkers.

Bowen is 0-8 with runners wearing the aid for the first time since the start of last year, but he does have a 15 per cent overall strike-rate with those who wore blinkers, and the combination of the addition of headgear, and drying ground, could do the trick.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Just Your Type
He's coming down the handicap and this is a lower grade of race than he's usually in. We’re also claiming off him, so there's lots to like.

Victor Dartnall, trainer of Dancing Shadow
He's fine and in good form at home after a break. He's back up in trip, which should suit him better, and we’re looking for a good run.

Tim Vaughan, trainer of Silver In Disguise
He should relish the step up to this sort of trip. He disappointed us last time out but seems in a better place at home since then and, providing the ground is safe, should run a decent race.

Peter Bowen, trainer of Dalkingstown
He's been looking around a bit on his last two starts, so we're sticking the blinkers on this time. He should appreciate the better ground and we're going there hopeful.

David Rees, trainer of Robin Of Sherwood
He's been carrying an injury on his last two starts after a horse fell into the back of him and we were initially told it had healed, but it hadn't. He's had a nice break since then and looks to be recovered, and we think this longer trip will play to his strengths.

Jackie Du Plessis, trainer of Kingsmill Gin
I'm hopeful the step up in distance should suit her as she's point-to-point bred, but I'm a bit worried about the pace they're likely to go in the ground. She would have an each-way chance.
Reporting by David Milnes

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