14:20 Bangor

Tuesday 3 January 2017

All13:1513:4514:2014:5015:2015:50

Stella Artois Cidre 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 10.20s

Ben Arthur¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

33/1

Winner on the last of his five starts in Irish PTP's and joined this yard for £8,500 in May. Acheived little of note in both starts over hurdles (this trip) so far, and looks better suited to handicaps over further.

Form: 1/7591P-

Derrynane²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

5/2

Placed twice in three starts in Irish bumpers for Paul Twomey and sent off favourite at Carlisle on UK debut in November. Travelled well that day before weakening, and contender here on hurdles debut.

Form: 23-347F

Generous Day²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: Henry Oliver

33/1

Not able to build upon his 100/1 fourth placing on hurdles debut at Leicester in early December when unseating at the first hurdle at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Questions to answer.

Form: 04

Grand Coureur³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams

25/1

Not shown enough in three starts over hurdles so far to suggest his turn is near. Let down by his hurdling on a couple of those runs, and this drop back in trip doesn't seem the obvious move.

Form: F6728-5

I'm A Game Changer⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

2/1

Powerful connections, and experience of Bangor (albeit we race on the inner hurdles track today), when eighth of 14 on hurdles debut in November. Improved third next time to a short odds winner (a year older), and boasts a progressive profile in his grade.

Form: R8-8311

Red Square Revival¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

10/1

Six length winner of an Intermediate Open NHF Race at Worcester in September (Good), but not fluent when weakening quickly and a beaten favourite on hurdles debut (2m 4f) at Ayr in November. Needs to have learnt from that experience.

Form: 18

Shininstar^h²²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L Heard| T: J Groucott| OR: 115

66/1

Placed on hurdles debut at Ludlow in April, but that was in a very weak novice event. Showed less since, and only eighth of 13 on sole start this winter here last month.

Form: P/P3-988

Sidsteel³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

200/1

Only beaten a handful of rivals in three starts in bumpers (all at Ludlow). Makes hurdles debut here with stable doubly represented.

Form: 000054-

Sulamani The Late⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

100/1

One of this stables lesser lights, and has looked reluctant in the past (at Southwell). Only tenth of 14 at Wetherby last week (100/1) and needs to take a significant step forward.

Form: 50523-3

Triopas⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Unknown| T: T Lacey

100/1

A keeping on never able to challenge on his second NHF start at Aintree in May, but unseated rider on hurdles debut at Ludlow last month, and struggled turned out quickly again at Doncaster with that Ludlow incident perhaps in his mind.

Form: 07957U-

War Creation¹⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

15/8

Sister to 2m hurdle winner Taniokey (and from a decent extended family), who scored on NHF debut at Perth in September for Stuart Crawford. Joined high profile connections since and clear contender on hurdles debut.

Form: 131

Non-Runners

Quarry Lami¹⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Mrs S Leech J: Paul Moloney

Forecasts

War Creation (15/8), I'm A Game Changer (2/1), Derrynane (5/2), Red Square Revival (10/1), Grand Coureur (25/1), Ben Arthur (33/1), Generous Day (33/1), Shininstar (66/1), Quarry Lami (66/1), Sulamani The Late (100/1), Triopas (100/1), Sidsteel (200/1)

A race in which few can be expected to make their mark. I'm A Game Changer is improving with experience, but may be found wanting against stronger rivals, whilst Red Square Revival needs to leave a disappointing hurdles debut at Ayr well behind him, but yet may be capable of doing so back on this flatter track. Derrynane would be an obvious contender on his hurdles debut, but this is best left to the mare WAR CREATION, on her hurdles debut for new connections. She receives weight from all of her rivals and sports the most promising profile on paper. 1. War Creation 2. Derrynane 3. Red Square Revival