14:15 Bangor

Saturday 24 March 2018

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

Shade Oak Stud Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 6m 49.10s

Rons Dream³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 130| D

3/1

No problems landing four-runner mares' novices' chase at Kelso last month on heavy ground over this sort of trip. Concedes weight all round but will relish this, particularly should any rain arrive.

Form: 592221

Sparkling River²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Dave Crosse| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 127| D

15/2

Lightly-raced eight-year-old creating a decent impression in five starts over fences this season, with two wins already. Lost little caste in defeat at Warwick last month (3m, good to soft) and should go well again.

Form: 1-71413

Conquer Gold⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 122| CD

9/2

Won this race last year (only 2lb lower) and has gone well in all three chase starts over this sort of trip (slightly below par in April at Haydock over shorter). Fair efforts in three hurdles starts this winter, should relish being back chasing.

Form: 214-725

Miss Tongabezi^h,t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 122| D

33/1

Shock 40/1 winner of Towcester (2m5½f, good to soft) novices' contest in December before running pleasing race at Doncaster in Listed company. Disappointing at Leicester since, but unexposed over this trip as a chaser and has stamina to go well now.

Form: 0-77133

Same Circus^p⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| D

15/2

Fortunate to score at Catterick last month when would-be winner ran out at the last, still had plenty work to do in order to score, she ran on well in first-time cheekpieces but will have to improve to add to tally.

Form: 8-62341

Emerald Rose^p⁸⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 119| D

14/1

Has a 3m soft ground chase win to her name, although arguably better when conditions are not quite as testing. Well held over C&D (soft) in December but better on Boxing Day at Market Rasen over 3m3½f, not discounted.

Form: 44-1333

Midnight Target^h,t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 118| D

9/2

Already proving to be a better chaser than hurdler she took advantage of a workable mark to score over fences in handicaps last time out at Huntingdon over similar trip. Given a 9lb rise for that win; still likely to take a hand here.

Form: 2-2F221

Grace Tara^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 107| BF| D

9/2

Fair effort behind Misty Mai at Hereford a fortnight ago over this sort of trip on first outing after wind surgery, finishing 7L second of seven. That was her best run (from four) over fences and runs from same mark here.

Form: 31-5442

Forecasts

Rons Dream (3/1), Midnight Target (9/2), Grace Tara (9/2), Conquer Gold (9/2), Same Circus (15/2), Sparkling River (15/2), Emerald Rose (14/1), Miss Tongabezi (33/1)

Miss Tongabezi has been useful so far over fences and could bounce back from a poor Leicester run now meeting this longer trip. Grace Tara went well on her first start after wind surgery at Hereford and should open her account in this sphere soon, while Kelso winner Rons Dream is also respected. A 9lb hike for scoring at Huntingdon might be the undoing of Midnight Target, so SPARKLING RIVER earns the nod to record her third chase win of the campaign, having lost little in defeat at Warwick last time out.