16:20 Bangor

Wednesday 4 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:55

Sportingbet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 4m 4.8s

Capitoul²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121

11/2

Won a maiden hurdle at Ayr on his first start for this yard in December but has not been seen since falling at Wetherby next time. Dropped 2lb (and in trip) going into this and likely to be some untapped potential, so is very interesting.

Form: 0/231F-

Lord Fendale⁴²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Jodie Hughes⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117

33/1

Won a Tipperary maiden hurdle last year and was runner-up in a handicap next time from a mark of 111. Not seen for 14 months and has switched yards, so given his higher mark over here, he is probably one to watch today.

Form: 206/212-

Nabhan^p,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 117

12/1

Took a Newbury juvenile hurdle in the spring of 2016 and has been competitive a few times since, including on his last two runs from today's mark. Handles cut and should again be thereabouts.

Form: 137/6-33

Barman⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

11/2

Won four out of five in a spell last year before the handicapper took his measure. Has been unable to return to that form this year and has now dropped to 8lb below his last win. Return to form not ruled out.

Form: 1F6-457

Derintoher Yank^h1⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| D

4/1

Won back to back novices' hurdles at Carlisle last autumn and after a string of reverses he is now on a very competitive mark again. Handles good to soft, although would prefer good ground to be at his best, but interesting with hood applied.

Form: 4-22577

Argus^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 114

11/1

Landed a Warwick novices' hurdle in May and showed that he is in good shape when beaten just 3L in a 1m4f Chepstow Flat handicap last time. On a reasonable mark for his handicap hurdle intro and a market check is suggested.

Form: 669-1

Salto Chisco³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 114| D

5/1

Won a couple of chases before reverting to this sphere and adding two more successes at Kempton in May and at Newton Abbot last time (2m1f, good). Up 4lb for that, but looks very competitive on ground that he handles.

Form: P4-1271

William Of Orange^t¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| BF

11/2

Has been unable to add to a Catterick novices' contest that he won last year on his second start for this yard, despite bettering that effort several times. Looks weighted up to the hilt again and will find this tough.

Form: 28544-P

Pop Rockstar²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 113

8/1

Well held in all starts so far, including when a 26L runner-up at Leicester (2m4½f, heavy) when last seen in February. Down 1lb for that and also dropped in trip, so has a bit to prove coming into this.

Form: 6P5442-

Cougar Kid²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 94

20/1

Landed a Catterick handicap hurdle (2m3½f, soft) in February from 1lb lower. Has only threatened to repeat that once since and was well beaten from this mark despite making the frame at Uttoxeter last time.

Form: 2-P8073

Non-Runners

Head High⁶¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 4

T: Sarah Hollinshead J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Derintoher Yank (4/1), Salto Chisco (5/1), Barman (11/2), William Of Orange (11/2), Capitoul (11/2), Pop Rockstar (8/1), Argus (11/1), Nabhan (12/1), Cougar Kid (20/1), Lord Fendale (33/1), Head High (33/1)

Capitoul should make a good fist of this from top weight, but he might struggle to give 7lb to SALTO CHISCO, who is the tentative suggestion. Harry Whittington's nine-year-old looks capable of another very good effort after his latest 4lb rise. Argus, Nabhan and Derintoher Yank are others of interest in a race that is unlikely to live long in the memory.