WEEKEND REVIEW 12th october 2026

WEEKEND REVIEW – 12TH OCTOBER

Overall, it was a quiet weekend with few talking points. The Flat Season is drawing to a close, and after Champions Day next weekend, our attention will turn fully towards the Jumps.

Although the Jumps season got underway at Chepstow this weekend, it wasn’t quite the usual experience, with all chase races omitted from the fixture, leaving us with hurdle races only.

CHEPSTOW – WELSH CHAMPION HURDLE

The results at Chepstow were underwhelming, if truth be told, with Pioneer Pete winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle off a rating of 125.

He was well supported in the market throughout the day, and perhaps that’s a lesson for the season ahead: if the money is down for Jonjo’s horses, you should take note!

PERSIAN WAR NOVICE HURDLE

This was followed by West Hill Verde winning the Persian War Novice Hurdle. Take nothing away from the performance, but he was the lowest-rated horse ever to win the race.

Is the Persian War Novice Hurdle still the race it once was?

Looking back at previous winners such as Reve De Sivola, Silviniaco Conti, Fingal Bay, Thyme Hill and McFabulous, it seems the race no longer attracts that same calibre of horse. West Hill Verde’s victory only reinforced that impression.

THE SILVER TROPHY – OLLY MURPHY & SEAN BOWEN

Daylatedollarshort won the Silver Trophy for Olly Murphy, ridden by Sean Bowen.

They won the race last year with Rambo T, also partnered by Sean Bowen, who actually deserted that horse this year to ride Daylatedollarshort.

That was a tip in itself!

Olly Murphy sent just three horses to Chepstow this weekend and came away with a victory in a major handicap.

Compare that with last year, when he sent four horses to the fixture and won both the Persian War and the Silver Trophy.

Something to remember for next year with Olly Murphy.

He may only send a small team across the bridge, but they’re there to win. Over the last two years, backing all his runners to a level-stakes 1pt win would have returned 20 points profit!

PAUL NICHOLLS – ONE TO FOLLOW?

Elsewhere, it was good to see Paul Nicholls get on the winners’ board.

This is a meeting he normally targets, but he sent only four horses to Chepstow this weekend and still secured a lovely 17/2 winner.

His team may be a little smaller these days, but he could be one to follow during the early part of the season.

DAN SKELTON – BACKING BLIND!

Now, what about Dan Skelton?

We’ve mentioned Olly Murphy and Paul Nicholls sending relatively small teams to Chepstow, but Dan Skelton sent a huge 29 horses across the three days!

He came away with five winners, including a 33/1 winner and a 14/1 winner.

In fact, if you had backed all 29 horses to a level-stakes 1pt win, you would have finished 24 points in profit!

Backing Dan Skelton blind — who would have thought it?…

HARRY SKELTON IN THE SADDLE

And what about Harry Skelton?

He had 16 rides over the meeting and came away with four winners.

Backing all his rides to level stakes of 1pt win would have produced an 8-point profit!

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED THIS WEEKEND?

What have we learned from the weekend, and how can we use that information to our advantage going forward?

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HORSES TO FOLLOW

Which horses have caught our attention, and who could be worth adding to your tracker for the season ahead?

This section is also exclusive to National Hunt Package members.

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