16:35 Bangor

Saturday 24 March 2018

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

Investec Wealth & Investment Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 5m 13.6s

Baby Ted⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

12/1

There is potential in his pedigree (half-brother to three winners) and he's shown ability, albeit modest in a pair of bumper outings finishing third both times. Will handle the conditions and could do better over hurdles and a trip such as this.

Form: 33

Bialco^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127

3/1

Won a chase in France though 0-5 over hurdles so far. The last two of those have been for this trainer, the better effort being on his British handicap debut at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) last month. If in that form here he would be tough to beat.

Form: 027352

El Scorpio⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

80/1

Not shown an awful lot in his two bumper runs so far, goes jumping for the first time and a watching brief seems the safest option for now.

Form: 70

Knockrobin^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128WS

5/4

Not disgraced here last month behind a couple of promising stayers, drops in distance this afternoon having undergone a wind operation since. Has prospects.

Form: 1-423

Lad Of Luck⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| BF

3/1

French-bred, well backed to win Chepstow bumper last February and did so smoothly, fair effort in Huntingdon maiden hurdle (2m, soft) in January when third (favourite) and entitled to come on for that.

Form: 1-3

Rob Royal⁶⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Mike Hammond

200/1

Ten-years-old and making just second appearance on the racecourse, heavy defeat in novice hurdle over 2m here in July 2016. Has been off 603 days since, easier to look elsewhere.

Form: 9-

That's Life³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards

50/1

Cost €45,000 as a three-year-old, and is a brother to various winners including She's Da One (2m3f-2m5f hurdle winner). Must come forward dramatically on what he's shown to date.

Form: 908

Cloone Lady⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

8/1

Cost £40,000 as a six-year-old, has plenty stamina in breeding and comes here having scored at fourth time of asking in Irish point-to-point last month. Worth market check on rules debut.

Form: 2F21

Forecasts

Knockrobin (5/4), Bialco (3/1), Lad Of Luck (3/1), Cloone Lady (8/1), Baby Ted (12/1), That's Life (50/1), El Scorpio (80/1), Rob Royal (200/1)

A few of these have fair claims, Bialco was better last time at Haydock and enters calculations on the strength of that run while Knockrobin ran well over a longer trip here last time and could improve for having had a wind op since. Lad Of Luck was backed to win a Chepstow bumper last year and, having run well at Huntingdon on his hurdles bow in January, any money behind him would be noted. CLOONE LADY changed hands for £40,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point last month and might be the answer receiving weight all around now.