13:40 Bangor

Saturday 24 March 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Broxton Gates Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 6m 53.80s

Steps And Stairs³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 107| D

9/2

Ex-Jonjo O'Neill runner returned from long absence to make winning start for these connections last month at Sedgefield (2m3½f, soft). 5lb higher now but does have C&D form in the book.

Form: 1P3P2-1

San Pietro³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| CD

4/1

Useful stayer who won back-to-back races at this track April 2016 but hasn't scored since. Lightly-raced for a 10-year-old, he backed out of things quickly over this trip last month at Wetherby.

Form: 6PP2-44

Boyfromnowhere^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 96| D

7/1

Best run (from four) this season came here over 3m5f last month, has failed to back that effort up since at Warwick and, despite slipping handicap mark, seems easier to oppose.

Form: 56-4B35

Cruising Bye^p,t²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 94| CD

5/1

Rated just 1lb higher than when scoring over C&D (good to soft) in May, entitled to come on for last month's spin over hurdles at Southwell and will hold chances on second start for new trainer if doing just that.

Form: 28-1383

Spirit Of Hale^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 89

4/1

Maiden after 13 career starts, though has shown some promise in four outings over fences recently including here in January over 2m4½f on heavy. Stays this far, but ran in snatches last time at Towcester and not one for maximum trust at this stage.

Form: 75-4434

Astigos²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 87

28/1

Yet to win beyond 2m5f and stamina for this sort of trip has to remain a concern having run four poor races since runner-up effort at Ffos Las in December (3m1f, heavy). Others more likely.

Form: 923555

Moorstown¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 84| CD

9/2

Improved showing last week at Ayr (3m, soft) but that still leaves him with more to find in a better race. Has won over C&D in the past in novice chasing company.

Form: 16-P4P2

Kilcascan^p⁸³

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 79| CD

28/1

Veteran whose last of five wins over fences came at Worcester in the summer of 2016. Beaten a long way on last three starts, latest pulled up at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve, and looks to be a light of former days.

Form: 945-66P

Forecasts

Spirit Of Hale (4/1), San Pietro (4/1), Steps And Stairs (9/2), Moorstown (9/2), Cruising Bye (5/1), Boyfromnowhere (7/1), Kilcascan (28/1), Astigos (28/1)

CRUISING BYE is just 1lb higher in the ratings than when he scored over C&D in May and, having begun life with this trainer over hurdles last month in relatively pleasing fashion, he's fancied to come on for the run and mount a bold bid back over larger obstacles. Steps And Stairs returned from an absence to score at Sedgefield last time and, despite a hike, can go well on a C&D where he has done so before while Moorstown and Spirit Of Hale are the best of the remainder.