14:50 Bangor

Saturday 24 March 2018

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

Alfa Aggregate Products Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 4m 16.1s

Good Tradition²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112

8/1

Ex-Dermot Weld-trained winner over timber, didn't bring his best stuff for this handler during 2017, winner on the AW (jumpers bumper) recently, and interesting contender now.

Form: 342-541

Newstart²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 110

12/1

Useful hurdler with two wins (six placed efforts) from 15 starts, held by Good Tradition in a jumpers bumper at Southwell recently, fitter for that outing and the obstacles could help in bid to turn around 8L deficit.

Form: 422152

Rebel Collins⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 109

3/1

Fair Flat winner for previous yard, improving over timber and duly runner-up over C&D last month on heavy going. Likely has more to give so one to consider seriously from 4lb higher mark.

Form: 22/7752

Vertigo^t⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

25/1

Wide-margin winner of Ayr maiden hurdle (2m5½f, heavy) in this month last year, though failed to make much impression in handicaps afterwards. Back down in trip on return from three-month break, bit to prove but yard doing well (4-16).

Form: 7-P29P8

Hit And Run^p⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

11/2

Off the mark at Sedgefield on Boxing Day (awarded race) and run with credit in both starts since at Catterick over shorter trips. Might just prefer more of a stamina test, but not crossed off.

Form: 362132

Comber Mill^h,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Ralph| OR: 107

5/1

Application of a hood/tongue tie has improved fortunes no end, winning his last three starts at Uttoxeter and Ludlow on testing going over this sort of trip. Game to score most recently, can make presence felt again despite 7lb hike.

Form: 448111

Dartagnan Le Dun^t1⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 107WS

20/1

French import, hasn't shown much since join current trainer. Comes here on the back of a wind operation but receives a watching brief for now.

Form: 40569P

Hijran²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 107

8/1

Mastercraftsman mare scored twice on the level before joining this yard, improving with each of four starts over timber, including close-up second at Southwell last month in soft-ground novice event. Opening mark could be lenient with 10lb claim.

Form: 6632

Unsafe Conduct⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 104

14/1

Hasn't shown enough in bumpers/hurdles so far to merit selection here, despite yard being in good form. Latest two runs he has pulled away his chances.

Form: 0F-F667

Destined To Shine^t⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 102WS

5/1

Bumper winner at Towcester last year (at 25/1) but done little since then, including at Warwick over this trip in January. Has undergone a wind operation since then.

Form: 13-6U60

Non-Runners

Astaroland⁵⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Dragon Khan³⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: Mrs R Gasson J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Rebel Collins (3/1), Dragon Khan (9/2), Destined To Shine (5/1), Comber Mill (5/1), Hit And Run (11/2), Hijran (8/1), Good Tradition (8/1), Newstart (12/1), Unsafe Conduct (14/1), Dartagnan Le Dun (20/1), Astaroland (20/1), Vertigo (25/1)

Comber Mill comes here in cracking form seeking a four-time and remains nothing but game, but the latest 7lb hike might halt him. Dragon Khan was behind him on New Year's Eve but has run well in two starts since and could be nearing a return to winning ways. Good Tradition was a ready winner of a Southwell jumpers bumper recently and will be a threat if transferring that form now the hurdles are in play, though runner-up Newstart could have plenty to say about that. REBEL COLLINS was second over C&D last month and has been building steadily with each start over timber, he can get off the mark now.