Chepstow Preview: Dragon can roar again for in-form Scu

Hereford-based trainer Michael Scudamore has his team in terrific form, and Eastern Dragon holds major claims of giving him another winner in the 7f handicap on a competitive seven-race card (3.30).

Scu has saddled five winners from his last 11 runners, and in Eastern Dragon has a horse at the top of his game who comes into the contest unpenalised following a cosy success six days ago.

That win came over 6f at Goodwood, where the four-year-old came with a steady run from off the pace and only had to be driven out to beat Heartsong by 1 3/4 lengths off a mark of 69.

The son of Elnadim gets into this off the same rating, and that is going to make him extremely difficult to beat.

The gelding is now upped in trip to 7f, but he has won over it before and also has plenty of solid form in testing conditions.

In the 6f handicap (3.00), Irish raider Lady Ranger looks weighted to take all the beating following an eye-catching run last time out.

The filly stayed on well to finish fifth of 13 in a 5f handicap on soft ground at Cork five days ago on her first start for trainer Adrian Keatley, despite racing from 5lb out of the handicap.
The daughter of Bushranger now runs off her correct mark of 48, and the step up to 6f looks sure to suit.

Connections appear to have found Lady Ranger a golden opprtunity to break her duck in a very weak looking class 6 contest lacking any real strength in depth, and it will be disappointing if she doesn’t take it.
Ralph Beckett is another trainer in good form, and his Aldborough looks a potential improver on handicap debut in the 1m 4f contest (4.05).

The gelding is a strong,slow maturing type, who shaped better than the bare result last time out when sixth of 10 to Honor Bond over 1m 2f at Windsor.

Although eventually beaten nine lengths, the son of Danehill Dancer only weakened out of contention approaching the final furlong having raced alone on the outside for much of the contest.
The winner has since come out and won the Oaks Trial at Lingfield, and the second and third have also gone on to score since.

That gives the form a solid look, and makes Aldborough look potentially well-treated off an opening mark of 70 now fitted with cheekpices for the first time.

Selections:
2.00: Majestic Hero
2.30: Hoy Hoy
3.00: Lady Ranger (NB)
3.30: Eastern Dragon (NAP)
4.05: Aldborough
4.40: Loch Ma Naire
5.15: Urban Space