Star Could Sparkle Back On Easier Ground At Chepstow

We ended York without a winner, but we couldn’t have gone much closer with Mabs Cross. Gordon Lord Byron ran a cracker for us too, and a furlong out I thought he was going to mow down the eventual winner. What a horse he has been for connections, and at the grand old age of 10 he is still going strong.

Coronet bumped into a special one in Sea Of Class, but she still ran a cracking race and if she isn’t retired she is capable of getting her head back in front in the right contest. Chief Ironside ran with great credit too, going out on his shield after trying to make all for Fran Berry. He is a horse with a future.

David Evans has a good record at Chepstow.

There was lots of rain about in the UK and Ireland on Sunday so there should be a bit of juice in the ground at most venues. The ground was described as good-good to soft in places at Chepstow early on Sunday morning, but after a fair spill of rain during the day it is now officially good to soft.

For this reason, I am going to have a small each way interest in a 3yo daughter of Dutch Art trained by David Evans. Star Girl showed clear signs of promise on her debut at Salisbury back in May over 6f on good to soft, beaten 11L when finishing 7th of 13. She finished in close proximity to a couple of horses that have won since and depending on how you read the form, she looks potentially well treated on handicap debut off 51.

She was slow away and found a little bit of trouble in running too, so that is why she went into my notebook. The winner and runner up from that race have won since and are both rated 80+. Gloweth, less than a length in front of Star Girl, has been handed an opening mark of 72 after going close subsequently and she was carrying 1lb more than Star Girl at Salisbury.

Akbar Shah. who has since gone close and is rated in the mid 70s, was behind Star Girl at Salisbury, as was Juthoor who has since won a novice and is now rated 75. Star Girl didn’t seem to relish the good to firm ground on her next start a couple of weeks later at Windsor, and Evans put her away, presumably playing the waiting game for easy ground.

Ten days ago Calum Shepherd rode Star Girl in a 7f maiden at Kempton and I think she ran better than her finishing position and distance beaten suggests. Only for a slow start and traffic problems she could have finished closer. I think her opening handicap mark of 51 could underestimate her if there is cut in the ground and at huge odds she is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 4.55 CHEPSTOW-STAR GIRL @ 40/1 E/W