14:30 Bangor

Tuesday 31 October 2017

All12:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:3516:10

Order New Timeform Chasers And Hurdlers Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 16.10s

Deise Vu^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: R Brotherton| OR: 104| D

8/1

Left his recent form well behind when a tough, gritty and game winner of a 1m7½f chase at Southwell earlier this month (good). Up 7lb as he seeks to follow up, with the runner up Saffron Prince being a subsequent winner.

Form: 2-FP341

The Yank^h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Callum McKinnes⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 101| D

4/1

Not the most straightforward, but in his defence, he has won four times over fences from 20 starts, and is becoming better handicapped now. Beaten 7L by Mercian King at Worcester recently, and likely to go forward early doors.

Form: 334342

Bold Duke¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Poste| T: E G Bevan| OR: 100

10/1

In reasonable shape over the summer months (largely over further), with excuses for his latest start at Stratford. Handles this track adequately, but doesn't win all that often (1 from 24 over jumps), and others that little bit sharper over 2m1f.

Form: 0-3224P

Diamond Rock²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 99

11/2

Not won since October 2016 (2m2½f handicap hurdle at Stratford). Made his chasing debut over C&D earlier in the month when a well held seventh of 13 to Firmount Gent, and needs to build quickly on that showing in order to take a hand.

Form: P650P-7

Astigos¹⁹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 97

66/1

Won just twice in 55 career starts, and his previous trainer Tom Gretton seemingly wasn't able to figure him out. Pulled up on his last two starts last term, he returns for a new trainer even further down the weights.

Form: 83P6PP-

Alpine Secret¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 96| BF

13/8

An eight race maiden who tried chasing for the first time at Hexham recently (2m4f heavy). He weakened quickly from the third last when pulled up behind Western Jo, so hopefully these less extreme conditions are more suitable today.

Form: 56947-P

Ballycool^t⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 92| C| D

5/1

Finished down the field in this contest in 2016, but his other starts at Bangor (2m4½f) are creditable. A course winner off an 8lb higher mark in August 2016, he was beaten just 1L by Deadly Move here in early September (good).

Form: 37-4652

Passing Fiesta⁵²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: S-J Davies| OR: 79

50/1

This mare has been absent since May 2016, and quite truthfully her overall career profile isn't the easiest on the eye. Her best 'recent' effort came at Taunton in March 2016 (2m good to soft) when a 1½L runner up to Edeiff's Lad.

Form: 325/PF8-

Forecasts

Alpine Secret (13/8), The Yank (4/1), Ballycool (5/1), Diamond Rock (11/2), Deise Vu (8/1), Bold Duke (10/1), Passing Fiesta (50/1), Astigos (66/1)

BALLYCOOL is Bangor proven, and whilst this trip is clearly short of his best, he commands respect from the same mark as he finished 1L second to Deadly Move over 2m4f+ here in early September. His connections have opted to send him on the long journey south from Perthshire, and the presence of a couple of front runners (including The Yank) should serve to strengthen his hand. His most obvious danger is the recent Southwell winner Deise Vu. That effort has been franked by the runner up Saffron Prince winning at Plumpton since, but this race is over almost an extra two furlongs, and he might be found wanting just enough late on.