Chepstow Racecourse

Double Handful

Double Handful

At the Start
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
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I would really appreciate any input that anyone could share regarding Chepstow Racecourse. I’m getting married this May and there are 16 of us flying to Cardiff from Ireland on the 24th Feb for the Stag.
Chepstow has a ‘Winter Ladies Day’ race meeting on the Saturday 25th Feb. I believe Chepstow is only 40 mins from Cardiff, so I would love to go and was just wondering if anyone has any info regarding this meeting.

Is it usually a good card? Do you need tickets or can you pay at the gate? Any other pointers regarding Chepstow – where to go or not to go while at the track?

@Roddy - if you’re reading – Might you have any runners or does Peter Bowen regularly target this meeting? (I think Henry Parry Morgan won at this meeting in 2016)

Any and all feedback greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
 
I grew up in Chepstow so it was my local track. I wasn't overly happy about the way it has gone over the past few years but having attended a seminar and race day there in December, I was pleasantly surprised. The new manager seems to be getting things back to how they should be.

That aside the card probably won't be top notch but you should get plenty of runners as its popular with NH trainers. I can't see it being a problem getting tickets on the day either - were it the Welsh National Day that would be different but you may be as well to ring ahead. Are you going all out and having a hospitality box? I must say I went in one for the seminar and it was excellent with very good food.
 
I'd recommend a visit.

The track is a few miles outside the town, so hiring a minibus could be a good option.
 
jinnyj said:
I grew up in Chepstow so it was my local track. I wasn't overly happy about the way it has gone over the past few years but having attended a seminar and race day there in December, I was pleasantly surprised. The new manager seems to be getting things back to how they should be.

That aside the card probably won't be top notch but you should get plenty of runners as its popular with NH trainers. I can't see it being a problem getting tickets on the day either - were it the Welsh National Day that would be different but you may be as well to ring ahead. Are you going all out and having a hospitality box? I must say I went in one for the seminar and it was excellent with very good food.
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The thought had crossed my mind to go all out as you say, but then I was wondering would that take away from the true race going experience, the paddock and betting ring etc. So I was hoping for some local knowledge from folk on here to point me in the right direction.

Many thanks to all who have responded above.
 
Degenerates on a stag don't deserve hospitality :D. You'll get tickets on the day but the racecourse may do you a deal with a group booking in advance

Hire a minibus, you'll go crazy organising public transport for a group.

Get a betting kitty going and someone on here will find the group a winner on the day
 
If you are travelling from Cardiff to Chepstow by train there is a racecourse bus that runs from the station. The course is walkable from the station but it is up hill all the way, and quite a way.
 
granger said:
Hire a minibus, you'll go crazy organising public transport for a group.

Get a betting kitty going and someone on here will find the group a winner on the day
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Cheers granger. The minibus option was always favoured over public transport. I'm very hopeful that one of the educated guru's on the forum can provide us with a nice winner [emoji106]
 
My father took me there on my first racecourse visit about fifty years ago when David Nicholson was riding, we used to have the Welsh Grand national on Easter Tues then . Sure we can find you some winners. Shoould have my
Lady Robyn win there today
 
Double Handful said:
I would really appreciate any input that anyone could share regarding Chepstow Racecourse. I’m getting married this May and there are 16 of us flying to Cardiff from Ireland on the 24th Feb for the Stag.
Chepstow has a ‘Winter Ladies Day’ race meeting on the Saturday 25th Feb. I believe Chepstow is only 40 mins from Cardiff, so I would love to go and was just wondering if anyone has any info regarding this meeting.

Is it usually a good card? Do you need tickets or can you pay at the gate? Any other pointers regarding Chepstow – where to go or not to go while at the track?

@Roddy - if you’re reading – Might you have any runners or does Peter Bowen regularly target this meeting? (I think Henry Parry Morgan won at this meeting in 2016)

Any and all feedback greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Click to expand...

I've just been having a look at the results for the last 5 years at this meeting and to my surprise David Pipe is one to watch when he has runners. Despite having no runners in 2013 he has had 15 runners with 6 winning at 15/8 - 9/2 - 6/1 - 8/1 - 11/1 & 12/1 --- 3 placed at 3/1 - 8/1 & 8/1 and 6 unplaced with 2 of those finishing 4th.
 
Is that because he is [from memory] sponsored by Bathwick Tyres who also seem to sponsor races at the course? I have to admit to not enjoying my one and only experience of Chepstow, mainly because I don't like the positioning of the pre parade ring, which is somewhere that I like to go to when racing. I'd like to have gone there before the layout was changed.
 
moehat said:
Is that because he is [from memory] sponsored by Bathwick Tyres who also seem to sponsor races at the course? I have to admit to not enjoying my one and only experience of Chepstow, mainly because I don't like the positioning of the pre parade ring, which is somewhere that I like to go to when racing. I'd like to have gone there before the layout was changed.
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It was fantastic back in the day, before Northern Racing took it over. The paddock was around the back and the saddling boxes and pre parade ring were to the left.
It was a proper Grade 1 jumps track......and Martin Pipe won so many races there, some called it Pipestow.
 
It seemed to me that the horses in pre parade were totally spooked by the horses galloping past them and I hate not being able to get a good look at horses in pre parade which is, imo, where most knowledgeable people congregate to see the horses prior to a race [I don't include myself in that, by the way, but I do a lot of earwigging when I'm there!].
 
Hi All. Just wanted to fire up a bit of conversation on this thread again ahead of my stag trip and visit to Chepstow this Saturday 25th. Looking forward to it now.
The lads are asking me about dress code. Is it a suited and booted type of place, or would we be better advised going smart casual?
(The fact that it is 'Winter Ladies Day' would this mean a classier dress-code than a regular Saturday?)

If anyone has any word of info on Runners? Would love to be able to get a few winners for the crew, so if anyone has info on intended runners with chances, please do share.
@Roddy - Any intended runners in your colours or from the Bowen stable? Many thanks.
 
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Double Handful said:
Hi All. Just wanted to fire up a bit of conversation on this thread again ahead of my stag trip and visit to Chepstow this Saturday 25th. Looking forward to it now.
The lads are asking me about dress code. Is it a suited and booted type of place, or would we be better advised going smart casual?
(The fact that it is 'Winter Ladies Day' would this mean a classier dress-code than a regular Saturday?)

If anyone has any word of info on Runners? Would love to be able to get a few winners for the crew, so if anyone has info on intended runners with chances, please do share.
@Roddy - Any intended runners in your colours or from the Bowen stable? Many thanks.
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I give a good shout to Eddiemaurice if declared, DH. He's entered in the 3:05... two mile hurdle at Chepstow on Saturday. Can't see that much to be scared of. He was 9th in the Betfair Hurdle, far from disgraced, so no surprise if he went extremely well in this lesser grade.
Best of luck with everything as well. ;)
 
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Just looking at the Chepstow card for Saturday and surprised to see Dickie Johnson riding here instead of the higher profile Kempton meeting. Across the card there some horses where jockeys are already booked/confirmed – but the majority are not. Is that any indication of likelihood to run? When are the final declarations for these races?

Also, regarding the 3:40 race, which is a Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) (Class 2) – Roddy’s horse, Rolling Maul, is entered! I’m always wary of betting on these races as horses may just be out to get 6th place to qualify as opposed to trying/wanting to win. Can anyone give me a better steer on the Pertemps series (With Cheltenham final in mind) – as in who is already qualified? – How many can qualify? Likely weight needed to get in? Likely Top weight etc.?

Would really appreciate any pointers here. Also If someone could please give us a winner! Thanks in advance.
 
I cannot give you any info, but the Richard Johnson angle could be sensible as he rode there Tingle Creek day and think he had three winners. Have a great day.
 
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Double Handful said:
Just looking at the Chepstow card for Saturday and surprised to see Dickie Johnson riding here instead of the higher profile Kempton meeting. Across the card there some horses where jockeys are already booked/confirmed – but the majority are not. Is that any indication of likelihood to run? When are the final declarations for these races?

Also, regarding the 3:40 race, which is a Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) (Class 2) – Roddy’s horse, Rolling Maul, is entered! I’m always wary of betting on these races as horses may just be out to get 6th place to qualify as opposed to trying/wanting to win. Can anyone give me a better steer on the Pertemps series (With Cheltenham final in mind) – as in who is already qualified? – How many can qualify? Likely weight needed to get in? Likely Top weight etc.?

Would really appreciate any pointers here. Also If someone could please give us a winner! Thanks in advance.
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2016: Top-weight OR154, bottom-weight OR135, Winner OR139, maximum field of 24 went to post.
 
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