'He's been brilliant for the yard' - can 'legend' Francky Du Berlais provide Bowens with more joy in veterans' chase?

This two-day Chepstow meeting is generally a benefit for horses who go well fresh and struggle to hold their form. This veterans' chase advertises that trend particularly well. Winners like Bob Ford, Vieux Lion Rouge and Some Chaos did most of their winning off the back of absences.

Good Boy Bobby, last year's winner who is back for another crack, is another clear qualifier. After a break, his record is 7-12. Otherwise, he is 5-25. With trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies in top form even by his usual high standards in autumn, it is easy to see why he is favourite.

You can infer plenty of others needing the run. Certainly Red goes without his usual headgear. Diol Ker is making his stable debut. Amateur generally takes a run to get going. The Two Amigos has not run in 573 days.

Copperhead and Wayfinder have also been put in at single-figure odds. Copperhead won when last seen in May, but that should not erase the memory that he has been notoriously difficult to win with over the last few years. Wayfinder has great course form but is ever harder to catch right.

The eye is drawn to Enrilo, whose own struggles are nearly as marked as those of Copperhead and Wayfinder. You can make the argument that he has been unlucky. He has come a cropper when still travelling well on a few occasions, and he finished last season well. 

Enrilo was second to a handicap blot in the Edinburgh National. Then he shaped better than the result over 3m4½f at Taunton and when midfield in the bet365 Gold Cup. It looks increasingly likely that he does not stay marathon distances.

He does plenty of good work fresh, and off the back of wind surgery, which he had over the summer, and with ground conditions also autumnal rather than wintry, Enrilo has a lot going for him in a race where plenty of these veterans will be stretching their legs.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

'Legend' Francky out to show more class for Bowens

Francky Du Berlais has been a warrior for the Bowen family and connections are hopeful he can notch an 11th career win.

The 11-year-old bounced back to form when scoring at Market Rasen last month and joint-trainer Michael Bowen believes he can be the one to beat if he produces a similar effort.

He said: "He's a legend, and he did really well the other day. He came out of the race great and his form is really good – if he performs anything like he did the other day then he'll take a lot of beating. He's been brilliant for the yard."

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Good Boy Bobby
He won it last year and I hope he can do it again. He runs well first time out and I'm very hopeful of his chances.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Enrilo
It's a long time since he last got his head in front and I'm determined to get him back in the winner's enclosure this season. He ran some cracking races in defeat last winter, including when second in the Edinburgh National and again when third at Taunton. We’re giving our new conditional jockey Jay Tidball his first ride for us on Enrilo, who has dropped to a nice enough handicap mark and is in the right company, though he is a thorough stayer these days. It's encouraging that ten of Jay's twenty winners have come over fences.

Evan Williams, trainer of Diol Ker
He's very slow, very lazy and probably left his best in Ireland, but he's a lovely old gent and we bought him at the sales to have a play around with and see if we can rejig his enthusiasm. He's come from one of the best hotels in the world, so it'll be a tough job.

Christian Williams, trainer of Strictlyadancer
We're really happy with him. He's had a gallop away and his work-rider Clive Banwell has said he's the best he's ever been. He's been a great horse for us; he's won at Cheltenham and on Betfair Chase day at Haydock.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Copperhead
He gets in off a nice weight, but it's much tougher than the race he won at Plumpton. It's a step up, but he's been really consistent in the last 18 months and deserves to take his chance. He goes well fresh and he'll run his race, but we'll be told if he's good enough for the final, or we'll have to plot a bit lower with him.

Read the rest of Friday's previews:

3.00 Newmarket: 'This looks a perfect spot for him' - analysis and key trainer quotes for a tightly knit Challenge Stakes 

3.15 Chepstow: 'He looks to have a favourite's chance' - Fergal O'Brien out to extend fine record in Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow 

3.35 Newmarket: Can any of the Aidan O'Brien fillies conquer unbeaten Desert Flower in the Fillies' Mile? Key quotes for Friday's Group 1 

Unbeaten favourite might have Ballydoyle's measure - but 80-1 about this lively outsider is frankly insulting 

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