Chepstow Preview: Creepy can collect on chasing debut

Creepy was a classy hurdler and can take advantage of a potentially lenient handicap mark to make a winning debut over fences in the 3m contest on today’s eight-race card at Chepstow (3.40).

The Martin Keighley trained gelding has always been held in the highest regard, and beat subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Splash Of Ginge in a 2m 4f maiden hurdle at the track on seasonal reappearance last season.

The six-year-old went on to land a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham, but his form then tailed off and he was well beaten in five subsequent starts.

However, Creepy has an excellent record fresh and having been rated as high as 138 over the smaller obstacles had been allotted an opening chase mark of just 130.

That makes Creepy look very handily treated if his jumping comes up to scratch, and with Richard Johnson in the saddle the son of Westerner looks decent value to get the better of the hat-trick seeking Barton Stacey.

Kalimantan is a fascinating contender in the 2m handicap hurdle (4.15) and has the potential to make a mockery of his basement opening mark of just 80.

The Tim Vaughan trained colt has failed to cut any ice in three novice hurdle runs but has been allotted a platers’ rating as a result, and could be thrown-in at the weights on the form he showed on the level in France when trained by Jean-Claude Rouget.

The four-year-old won and was placed twiced on the flat for Rouget, and the well-bred son of Azamour is going to take the world of beating in this low-grade class 5 affair if his handler can get him back to anything like that level of form.

In the 2m handicap hurdle (4.50), Seaside Shuffle is weighted to go well if putting his best foot forward.

The Sophie Leech trained gelding is not the easiest to win with, but shaped as if coming back to form last time out when fourth at Stratford in an amateur riders’ contest.

The nine-year-old now gets the professional services in the saddle of Paul Moloney, and having dropped to a mark of 86 is 1lb lower then when last successful.