15:20 Bangor

Thursday 4 January 2018

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2015:55

Stella Artois 4% Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 6m 44.1s

Lady Mix²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 112

13/2

Wide margin debut bumper winner at Newbury in March. Best effort since was last time on handicap hurdle intro, when 2¼L third at Doncaster (3m½f, good). Up 3lb for that so needs some improvement but good claimer booked and should be thereabouts.

Form: 12-6653

Tudors Treasure²⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 106| BF

5/1

Ran some nice races in handicaps in the early part of last year, winning at Ffos Las when stepped up to 2m6f (soft) in March. Beaten from this mark when last seen in April, but open to improvement on this reappearance with stable's runners in form.

Form: 5/62316-

Cougar Kid¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 106| BF

9/2

Gets on well with this pilot, having recorded three of his four wins with her up. Stays 2m5½f in soft ground, though today's trip is a step into the unknown. Hat-trick bid foiled from this mark last time and needs a bit more improvement.

Form: 335113

Libby T Valance³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 105

12/1

Landed a Worcester bumper on debut (good to soft) in 2016. Has shown promise in a couple of maiden/novices' hurdles over 2m3½f, including here. Went well for a long way over 3m on handicap debut last time and interesting from 2lb lower.

Form: 13-36

Arden Denis⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 103

7/1

Has shown that he is capable of winning at lower levels on soft ground at up to 2m5½f. Went up 16lb for wide margin Wincanton win 11-months ago. Ran well from this mark next time. Pulled up on chase debut latest but claims back over hurdles.

Form: 1/4313-P

American Life^b,t⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100| D

9/4

Stays 3m on heavy ground, though without a win since a purple patch in the 2014/15 season. However, has been knocking on the door again in recent runs, including a short-head defeat at Catterick last time and despite 4lb rise he has claims.

Form: 42P2-22

Tailor Tom¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98

12/1

Has shown some promise in three novices'/maiden hurdles over 2m4f, the latest at Uttoxeter (soft) being the best of them. Looks to be on a fair mark for this handicap debut now stepped up in trip and enters calculations.

Form: 6P3-804

Somerset Jem⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 92

10/1

Won a bumper on heavy ground and a handicap hurdle on soft almost two years ago, when 5lb lower. Stays 2m5½f, though unproven over further. Showed signs of revival at Taunton last time and has an each-way squeak if stamina holds up.

Form: 6057-P3

Prince Kup^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: L Hurley| OR: 90

100/1

Has an Irish maiden hurdle win to his name and also handles heavy ground, but recent form none-too-inspirational. 7lb drop going into this and blinkers now fitted, but it takes a leap of faith to see him coming good.

Form: 88PP56

Young Lou^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 90| D

25/1

Stays 3m2f on heavy ground and was beaten just 3L when that was the case at Warwick in March, from 1lb lower. Was entitled to need her reappearance at Towcester last month and not ruled out with that under her belt.

Form: 30452-9

Non-Runners

The Draconian¹⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

American Life (9/4), Cougar Kid (9/2), Tudors Treasure (5/1), Lady Mix (13/2), Arden Denis (7/1), Somerset Jem (10/1), The Draconian (10/1), Tailor Tom (12/1), Libby T Valance (12/1), Young Lou (25/1), Prince Kup (100/1)

This could work out to be a reasonably competitive event and TAILOR TOM is the suggestion. Donald McCain's six-year-old looks to be on a workable mark for his handicap debut and this step up in trip ought to be within his compass. American Life looks sure to be competitive again, while Young Lou has the right sort of credentials to make an impact. Lady Mix, Arden Denis, Tudors Treasure and Libby T Valance are others to consider.