Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams likes a maiden hurdler at Chepstow

Can improve for more positive tactics

Chepstow 13:10: Drenagh 1pt win 3/1

Drenagh started his career in Irish points for Stuart Crawford and showed ability while looking in need of a sharper test.

After finishing third at Ballindenisk, he was bought to join Alastair Ralph and ran to a good level on both starts in bumpers for him in early 2020. On the first of those occasions, he was beaten 3½ lengths by Faivoir, who is now rated in the 140s over hurdles and fences. He was ridden much handier next time at Newcastle and only found Wetlands too good for him while pulling seventeen lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Drenagh was off the track for 647 days before returning to action at Bangor for his hurdling debut. He was left with a big lead early on after Barrichello whipped round at the start but didn't take advantage of that and had been passed by the second hurdle.

He gradually lost ground on the leading pair early on the final circuit before making headway on the very long run to 2 out. Nudged along on the bend, he got stuck on the inside and couldn't get a clear run on the approach to 2 out where he was a bit slow. He came under stronger pressure on the run to the last and finished strongly on the run in but couldn't quite catch Chris Cool.

While it was a bit disappointing that he couldn't take advantage of Barrichello's antics at the start, Drenagh was returning from a long break and he didn't have things pan out ideally for him either.

I also think he was ridden surprisingly negatively given how much he found in the closing stages in bumpers and I'm hopeful that Nick Scholfield will send him to the front early and make plenty of use of him as otherwise today's test might be too sharp for him, even in the very testing conditions.

This race lacks strength in depth and he's shown the most ability in the field in those two bumpers so despite the concern that he will be better over a bit further, I think he has a strong chance and any 5/2 or bigger appeals.