14:45 Bangor
Wednesday 4 October 2017
All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:55
Malise Nicolson Novices' Handicap Chase
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 1f 77y | Good to Soft | 13 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 4m 15.90s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Ffos Las handicap hurdle winner (2m4f, soft) in February who was pulled up when last seen stepped up to 2m7f at Exeter in March. Makes his chase debut here over a trip that looks plenty short enough, but will be well prepared.
Won a bumper three year ago for Tony Coyle, though yet to add to that for this yard, finishing runner-up three times over hurdles (2m-2m3½f). Acts with cut, but has clearly had problems and has an absence of 19 months to overcome.
0-8 over fences so far and comes into this on the back of a Newton Abbot selling handicap hurdle win last month from 10lb higher. Condition and trip no problem, but he does have plenty to prove in this discipline.
Sole success so far came in a Stratford handicap hurdle (2m2½f, good) about a year ago, but form tailed off since. Now tries chasing over a trip that looks short enough for him and despite a positive pedigree he looks best watched this time.
Irish point-to-point winner who showed some promise in a Sandown novices' hurdle (2m, soft) in March, though has not yet been able to build on that. Has a chase winner in his primarily Flat pedigree, though perhaps one to watch on chase debut.
Was runner-up here in a novices' hurdle (2m½f, good to soft) in January, though has looked to be in the grip of the handicapper in that sphere. 4lb drop, plus his pilot's claim, may change that dynamic and pedigree suggests he will jump a fence.
Goes into this from a 3lb lower mark than when making the frame in a Southwell handicap hurdle (2m4½f, good) in March and has put in two respectable efforts over hurdles since. Should be capable of giving a good account on his chase debut.
Won a similar race over C&D (good) from 5lb lower in August, though was weakening out of it when falling at Worcester when on today's mark last time. Extra furlong may help, though so far he has not been at his best with cut in the ground.
0-11 in all starts so far but showed promise on his first chase outing at Plumpton (2m1f, good to firm) in April when a 7L runner-up from 5lb higher. Well beaten over further last time. Handles cut and could go well back over shorter.
Well beaten in all of her eight starts to date and last of four (beaten 18L) in her chase debut at Worcester last month, when she never headed another opponent. Impossible to recommend her in this.
0-14 under rules, though made the frame on his first start for this yard in a Worcester handicap chase (2m4f, good) in July. Was beaten favourite both then and last time at Fontwell and goes into this from 5lb lower, though clearly carries risks.
Couldn't win a point-to-point and is 0-4 under rules, being well beaten every time. Not easy to enthuse about his chance this time either.
Took advantage of a mark of just 78 to win a Uttoxeter novices' handicap hurdle (2m7½f, good) in May, though well beaten from this mark last time. Drop in trip does not look ideal for this chase debut.
Forecasts
Champion Chase (7/2), Sage Monkey (9/2), Bonobo (13/2), Grand Coureur (7/1), Firmount Gent (8/1), Legal Ok (8/1), Lovely Bubbly (12/1), Its A Sting (16/1), Diamond Rock (16/1), Ben Arthur (20/1), Miss Feistypants (20/1), Silent Man (20/1), Coopers Square (66/1)
Very moderate fayre here and the suggestion is GRAND COUREUR, who has form at the track, handles the ground and may be able to take advantage of a 4lb drop going into his chase debut. Champion Chase is another newcomer to this discipline who could have a big say in the outcome, while Lovely Bubbly and Firmount Gent are also respected.
- Grand Coureur
- Champion Chase
- Firmount Gent
Prize Money
1st: £4,549.002nd: £1,336.003rd: £668.004th: £334.00
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