14:10 Bangor

Saturday 21 April 2018

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:35

Arthur Radcliffe Birthday Celebrations Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 5m 54.4s

Bomber's Moon^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

16/1

Never troubled the leaders when finishing 13L third to Sparkleandshine at Huntingdon last month (2m), so well worth a significant step up in trip on just his third try over timber.

Form: 20-663

Circuit Court³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber

100/1

Cost €47,000 out of the Irish point-to-point scene, but not made any impression over hurdles yet. Makes his second start following wind surgery.

Form: P/22-1P6

Emerald Chieftan¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Menzies

40/1

Cost £13,000 in January and finished runner up on stable/hurdles debut at Sedgefield (2m4f soft) to odds-on favourite Lord Napier. Possibly bogged down in the Uttoxeter mud latest, so this rates as a reasonable next option.

Form: 6P-4126

Mance Rayder¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Soft ground bumper winner at Warwick in March 2017, but pulled up on both starts over hurdles so far after losing touch from mid-race. Cost €155,000 as a three-year-old and feasible he'll enjoy this quicker ground.

Form: 1-PP

Master Tradesman²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 122

7/2

His trainer has enjoyed an excellent first season under rules for the number of horses in his care, and this gelding finished second at Hereford latest (2m5f+) without ever landing a blow on all the way winner Westend Story.

Form: 142-P52

Merry Milan¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin

28/1

Looked in need of the race when finishing sixth on stable/hurdles debut at Ludlow earlier this month (2m5f+), but stays well, being a winner of a 3m point-to-point at Kinsale in June 2017.

Form: 75-16

Overworkdunderpaid^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 119

5/1

Beaten 16¾L (fifth) behind Chapel Stile in a C&D handicap last month. That was his first start since wind surgery (also his handicap debut), so every reason to expect him being much more competitive in this lesser grade.

Form: 1-38455

Warthog^p1,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

3/1

Irish point-to-point winner who has found little under pressure in his last couple of outings, hence connections reaching for the first time cheek-pieces. His mark of 127 is vastly over-inflated and he's probably one to be wary about.

Form: 26-3P32

Worthy Farm³⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls

3/1

Half-brother to bumper/2m-2m4f hurdle winner Mister Miyagi, this €60,000 three-year-old is 1 from 1 in point-to-points. Not seen any action for fast approaching 12 months, but is much respected given connections at a realistic level on rules debut.

Form: 1

Agent Memphis²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

66/1

Scorpion mare who cost only €800 as a yearling, but sold for £42,000 in November 2017 after a couple of second placed efforts in Irish point-to-points. Made a low-key hurdles debut last month, but time is still her friend at present.

Form: 220

Banrion Scairp³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

20/1

Shown some minor promise in a couple of northern mares' novice hurdles (Catterick and Sedgefield), but no more than that in all honesty. Eased in grade slightly, but rates as an unlikely winner.

Form: 234

Stupid Cupid¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis

100/1

Not shown enough in two starts over hurdles, including on her return to action at Ludlow earlier in the month (2m soft) in order to even threaten to figure on the radar.

Form: 1584-P0

Tikk Tock Boom²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: Ian Williams

20/1

Beaten 8¾L (fourth) on hurdles debut at Warwick on New Years Eve (2m5f heavy), but got no further than the first on her next start, so plausible she'll need this race; effectively her first start for 18 weeks.

Form: 71-74U

Forecasts

Worthy Farm (3/1), Warthog (3/1), Master Tradesman (7/2), Overworkdunderpaid (5/1), Bomber's Moon (16/1), Mance Rayder (20/1), Banrion Scairp (20/1), Tikk Tock Boom (20/1), Merry Milan (28/1), Emerald Chieftan (40/1), Agent Memphis (66/1), Stupid Cupid (100/1), Circuit Court (100/1)

Not a particularly strong maiden hurdle, especially with the top-rated Warthog appearing to be a very questionable character. Bomber's Moon could be capable of better for Nigel Twiston-Davies now encountering a staying trip for the first time, whilst Overworkdunderpaid ran well enough on handicap debut over C&D last month to enter the reckoning in a less competitive contest. Therefore, we'll make the basic assumption that the Paul Nicholls trained rules debutante WORTHY FARM won't have to be anywhere near a leading light at Ditcheat in order to make a winning start over timber in the hands of the excellent Bryony Frost.