Tuesday tips for Chepstow: Galloping Bear in the hunt, Scriptwriter in the mix
- Planet Sport writer
- 26 December 2022
The Galloping Bear can give the crowd something to cheer by becoming the fourth successive home-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday.
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SELECTIONS (all Chepstow)
12.00 Half Dozen
12.30 Secret Plan
13.05 Fugitif
13.40 Scriptwriter
14.10 Green Book
14.50 THE GALLOPING BEAR (NAP)
15.25 Young Buck
15.55 Isaac Des Obeaux
13.40 Scriptwriter
Scriptwriter looks another smart youngster for Milton Harris and can win the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle.
Harris tasted Grade One glory with Knight Salute last season and while this race has lost its top-level status this season, Scriptwriter looks well up to tackling that sort of company in future.
He has won both his races over obstacles to date, despite the odd mistake, but that only means there is plenty of scope for improvement.
Classy on the Flat, he was rated 102 for Aidan O'Brien and the more he jumps the better he will get.
14.50 THE GALLOPING BEAR (NAP)
The Galloping Bear can give punters something to cheer in the Coral Welsh National.
Potters Corner, Secret Reprieve and last year Iwilldoit have all ensured the Red Dragon has flown with pride in recent years - and the Ben Clarke-trained The Galloping Bear has all the credentials of making it four in a row for Wales.
It is usually quite easy to make a shortlist for the race as the conditions are inevitably very testing so only a handful will be suited by the stamina test over three miles and five furlongs.
However, with the dry autumn there is a chance it will not be as heavy as normal, which will bring the classier operators to the fore.
The Galloping Bear, despite being nine, is surely still well treated off 140 when taking into account he was a ready winner of the Haydock Grand National Trial off the same mark in February.
That victory was then rescinded after suspected cross-contamination in the yard saw him test positive for a trace of a muscle treatment that contained a prohibited raceday substance.
The authorities agreed Clarke had no knowledge of The Galloping Bear having been administered the substance, but the horse was still disqualified. Nevertheless, he showed that day has has all the qualities required in a Welsh National winner.
He ran as well as could be expected over hurdles on his only previous start this season when third and has been trained for the race.
