Chepstow Preview: Golden opportunity for Nordic Nymph

Nordic Nymph has a progressive profile and looks a worthy favourite to land the spoils in the 3m handicap hurdle at Chepstow today (4.35).

The Henry Daly trained mare has improved out of all recognition since going handicapping, landing a 2m contest at Bangor in good style off an opening mark of 80 before following up in facile fashion at Exeter by 15 lengths of 87.

The six-year-old was shout with a 13lb rise for the latter, but showed that her revised mark of 100 was not beyond her when a fine 1/2 length runner-up to Capard King in a class 4 contest at Huntingdon last week.

The winner is an unexposed improver, and the pair pulled 15 lengths clear of the field to give the form a rock solid look.

Nordic Nymph is able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off the same mark, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn the daughter of Norse Dancer out quickly as she is due to race off 110 in future contests.

That makes Nordic Nymph look miles ahead of the assessor and thrown-in at the weights, especially with the highly talented Thomas Bellamy in the saddle whose claim takes another 5lb off her back.

Providing this race doesn’t come too quickly, it looks a glorious opportunity for Nordic Nymph to notch another success.

In the 2m 4f handicap hurdle (4.05), Mini Muck can bounce back to form now eased in grade.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained mare was a three-time winner over hurdles last season, with the last of those successes coming in a class 4 handicap at Leicester off a mark of 110.
Mini Muck got hit with a 7lb rise for that success and struggled in her next three starts, but showed that she had more races in her with a fine third of 14 in a class 4 contest at Aintree on seasonal reappearance off a rating of 114.

The handicapper harshly put the nine-year-old up 7lb for that run to 121, and she has subsequently disappointed in three subsequent outings.

However, those runs have come in decent class 2 and 3 contests and Mini Muck’s mark has fallen to 112 as a result.