16:25 Bangor

Friday 9 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:2516:55

British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 4m 25.4s

Fin And Game³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| CD

7/4

Looked a potentially smart prospect when scoring by 9L at Wetherby (2m, soft) in November and followed up here under a penalty, when front pair were 23L clear. Back to the well under another penalty now, but has to be feared if taking him on.

Form: 24-11

The Linksman³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 122| D

3/1

Can be quirky (has run out twice) but certainly looked to have ability when routing his field by 26L from the front at Fakenham (2m, heavy) last time. Despite a penalty for that, he has to be on short-lists again today.

Form: 478R21

Commodore²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams

16/1

Won a 2m5f chase (good) in France in 2016 and handled very soft over there. Has shown little in two novices' hurdles for this trainer, including over C&D and looks best watched at present.

Form: 214-P8

Duke Of Kilcorral³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland

50/1

Well held in three bumpers and in both starts in novices hurdles, including when 75L adrift of Fin And Game last time out. Others readily preferred.

Form: 80-680

Mister Rainman¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: A Wintle

100/1

Made the running in both bumpers runs but ultimately beaten 50L and 26L in those. Always in rear before being pulled up on hurdling introduction at Uttoxeter last month and hard to make a case for him on what we have seen.

Form: 8-7P

My Liege⁷²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

8/1

Won a Wincanton bumper (soft) on debut in December 2015 but not seen since 18L third in another of those contests at Exeter two years ago. Makes delayed hurdles debut and merits a market check given that previous winning form.

Form: 13/

Potterman⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: A King| BF

2/1

Another debut bumper winner, in his case at Huntingdon (good) last May. Has bettered that in both hurdles runs, going close at Kempton and then finishing 7L second in a big field at Newbury. Very solid claims.

Form: 132

Sliding Doors³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

50/1

Showed promise in bumpers without managing to win one, though beaten 47L and 51L respectively in two starts over hurdles. Looks more likely to make appeal when he has a handicap mark to work with.

Form: 234-80

Forecasts

Fin And Game (7/4), Potterman (2/1), The Linksman (3/1), My Liege (8/1), Commodore (16/1), Duke Of Kilcorral (50/1), Sliding Doors (50/1), Mister Rainman (100/1)

An interesting contest here with Potterman favoured by these weights in official ratings and very much respected in being taken on with FIN AND GAME. Donald McCain has gone on record as saying that he thinks plenty of him and his performances over hurdles have backed that up. This soft, rather than heavy ground, can help him continue to improve and he may still have too much class for those in receipt of weight from him. Wide margin Fakenham winner The Linksman is one of those and a follow up success would be no great surprise. My Liege has a tough task on his first start for two years, but merits a precautionary market check.