The jumps action from Chepstow continues live on Sky Sports Racing on Sunday…

3.47 Chepstow – Service Minimum and Leader Crik contest hot feature

The main event on the third day of the Welsh Racing Festival is the DragonBet Cefnogi Rasio Ceffylau Cymreig Handicap Hurdle where Service Minimum and Leader Crik lock horns.

The Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies team continue in great form, and Leader Crik looks to have leading claims on his first dip into handicap company. A 12-length winner of a Doncaster maiden hurdle in February, he steps up in distance and rates a key player under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Service Minimum is another who arrives on the back of a success, having scored at Newton Abbot last month. She is up another six pounds but could have more to give now tackling further.

Matty’s Getaway must be considered after he finished last season with a game victory at Haydock and a reproduction of that would see him go close.

4.22 Chepstow – Haas Boy takes on Ooh Betty

In-form Haas Boy seeks a hat-trick in a fine renewal of the DragonBet Born In Wales Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle.

The Chester Williams-trained nine-year-old sprung back to life off a lesser mark at Wincanton in March before following up at Ascot the same month. He returns from a summer break with obvious chances off this lower hurdles mark.

Ooh Betty is the chief danger for Ben Clarke and Ben Jones. She landed the Grade Two Warfield Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot in January and ran with credit at Cheltenham and Ayr. This is a drop in grade and she should be involved.

Norn Iron and Gower Prince are a consistent pair, while Glengouly is worth a mention switched back to hurdles.

1.27 Chepstow – Princess Day, Divine Diva and Connells Cross head field

Exciting trio Princess Day, Divine Diva and Connells Cross clash in the opening DragonBet / EBF Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Princess Day showed excellent form winning her first two bumpers after landing her sole point and was sent off 2/1 favourite when beaten in the Aintree Grade Two in April. Finishing ahead of the reopposing Divine Diva, she looks one to follow over hurdles this season.

Divine Diva, a point-to-point winner last March, ran a screamer when third in Listed company at Cheltenham in November before finishing well beaten in that Aintree event. That can be forgiven and she remains a useful prospect.

Connells Cross scored on two of her three bumper starts for Jennie Candlish and makes her hurdling and stable debut for Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls. A tongue-tie goes on but she could be above average.

Best of the rest

4.57 Chepstow – The Skeltons’ Old Coast Road bids to go 2-2.

3.12 Chepstow – Progressive Harbour Light faces 12 rivals.

4.17 Auteuil – Grade Two heat won by the likes of McTigue and Theleme in the past.

2.50 Auteuil – Grade Three contest.

4.50 Auteuil – Grade Three with last year’s winner Losange Bleu involved.



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