Horse Racing

Chepstow Races Return Over The Jumps With Popular Persian War Novices’ Hurdle Two-Day Fixture

Andy Newton Sports Editor

Published6 hours ago on October 09, 2024

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This week’s Chepstow races two-day fixture over Friday and Saturday marks the ‘real’ start of the jumps season for many horse racing fans, as the Welsh track gets geared up for one of its biggest fixtures on the calendar.

Jump Racing Is Back: As Chepstow Races Stages Two-Day Persian War Meeting This Week

Of course the Welsh Grand National fixture over the Christmas period is the biggest meeting for Chepstow races each season – but this week’s Persian War Novices’ Hurdle card is not a million miles off.

With horse racing fans tackling mostly turf flat action since May, for many this week’s two-day Chepstow meeting signals the ‘proper’ start of the new National Hunt season. Despite the actual campaign beginning back in July.

Yes, there is summer jumping to keep the hedge-hoppers going, but really the main jumping season runs from October to April – which is where you’ll find all the big fixtures like the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, the Cheltenham Festival in March and, of course, the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.

Others consider the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, which this year will be run on Saturday 2nd November, to be another curtain-raiser jumps season race. Just don’t tell Chepstow that.

Regardless what your views are – the one thing that is clear is that Friday and Saturday’s Chepstow jumping card takes a significant leap up in terms of quality. Not only with the horses on show – but also the trainer and jockeys.

These include the 14-time Champion Jumps Trainer Paul Nicholls, who loves to support this week’s Chepstow meeting and has won the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle four times since 2016. Including 12 months ago with Captain Teague (watch below).

However, Nicholls is leaving it to the rest this year – he’s not got a runner.

Ryan’s Rocket and Flying Fortune Head Persian War Novices’ Hurdle Market

According to the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, Friday’s Persian War Novices’ Hurdle could be fought out between Ryan’s Rocket and Flying Fortune – but there are also five others in the race.

A field of just seven go to post and with one of those Bullets Hill, the big outsider, then really the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle should rest between just six horses (see full field below).

Ryan’s Rocket will be a popular pick coming from the Fergal O’Brien yard, who has won this race twice since 2017, having impressed in his last two wins at Taunton and Kempton.

He’s back from a 158-day break here, but has gone well fresh in the past and the O’Brien stable has been amongst the winners in recent weeks too.

Flying Fortune will be on people’s radars as well after three straight wins and will be fitter than most with his last run just two weeks ago.

While top jockey Harry Cobden, who has won the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle three times, is an interesting jockey booking on Intense Approach with his main stable Paul Nicholls not having a runner.

Persian War Novices’ Hurdle Runners

Ryan’s Rocket (Fergal O’Brien)
Flying Fortune (Peter and Michael Bowen)
Intense Approach (John C McConnell)
Juventus De Brion (Dan Skelton)
Vincenzo (Sam Thomas)
Handlethekettle (Jamie Snowden)
Bullets Hill (Ella Pickard)

What Is The Chepstow Races Going?

Chase: Good-to-Soft (soft in places)
Hurdle: Soft (hurdle races to be run on the flat course)
Going Stick: Chase 6.0 / Hurdle 5.6

ITV Racing Will Be Showing Two Chepstow Races LIVE On Friday, Including Persian War Novices’ Hurdle

The further good news is that the ITV Racing cameras will also be heading to Chepstow races on Friday to take in two races.

Both will be shown on their ITV4 channel – see below.

With ALL 15 Chepstow races over the two-day fixture will be shown on SkySports Racing.

3:15 – Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m3½f ITV4
3:50 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 6 Of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series) Cl2 (10yo+ 0-150) 2m7½f ITV4

Chepstow Races Today Running Order (Fri 11th and Sat 12th October 2024)

Friday Chepstow Races (11th Oct 2024)

1:35 – Century Racing Club Free Horse Giveaway Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m SKY
2:10 – Century Racing Club Free Horse Giveaway Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m SKY
2:45 – Capital Windscreens In Memory Of Aaron Jones EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle (Qual’) (GBB) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
3:15 – Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m3½f ITV4
3:50 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 6 Of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series) Cl2 (10yo+ 0-150) 2m7½f ITV4
4:25 – Carl Pyne 60th Birthday Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl3 (4yo+) 2m7½f SKY
5:00 – 3 As Leisure Motorhome-Caravan Sales Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (8yo+ 0-135) 2m SKY
5:30 – David Pipe Racing Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase Cl4 (4yo+ 0-115) 2m7½f SKY

Saturday Chepstow Races (12th Oct 2024)

1:35 – Champion Equestrian Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (3yo) 2m SKY
2:10 – Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 4-Y-O Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo) 2m SKY
2:45 – Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase (Listed Race) (For The Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy) (GBB) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
3:20 – Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
4:00 – John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3½f SKY
4:35 – Native River Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m7½f SKY
5:10 – Unibet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) Cl4 (4-5yo) 2m SKY

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