Got one of those sneaky feelings today - I think the lovely Mrs Lavelle could land a tasty double at Chepstow (and upset Paul Nicholls in the process) with Shotgun Paddy and Timesremembered. Shotgun Paddy goes in the Novices Chase at 2.25 and is up against the first Nicholls hotpot in Just A Par. There was just 3lbs between the two of them over hurdles and yet Just A Par is 1/2 fav and Shotgun Paddy is 13/2. Shotgun Paddy clearly loves the mud, having won twice and placed 3 times on soft and heavy and he looks a real bit of value here. Timesremembered runs in the Persian War and is up against another short-priced Nicholls favourite in Ceasar Milan, who is around the 2/1 mark whilst Timesremembered is 13/2. Ceasar Milan is owned jointly by the Stewart and Wylie families so certainly has the right credentials in that department, but I find the form of his 2 bumper wins less that stellar, and I'm happy to take him on with Timesremembered. The Akbar gelding won on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter and, although he put in some dodgy leaps, he clearly has a decent motor as he led all the way and pulled out more when challenged from 2 out to win readily from Charlie Longsdon's No No Mac, with the 3rd, Jonjo's Dakar run (who had previously finished 5th in the Aintree Champion Bumper) miles back. Going further back to his pointing days, Timesremembered started with 2 second-placed efforts before winning at the 3rd time of asking on soft/heavy from a horse called Mr Grey, who subsequently won a P2P by a distance. You have to really stay to win the Persian War and I think Timesremembered has a very decent chance today.
E/W singles and a double and hopefully a big smile on lovely Emma's face this afternoon.