13:40 Bangor

Saturday 19 May 2018

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

Wrexham Lager Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 3m 59.1s

Bonjour Steve¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: R J Price

100/1

Five-time winner on the Flat at modest levels, reaching a peak rating of 70 in 62-race career. Likely best watched now going jumping for the first time.

Form:

Fleeting Visit²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

6/1

Just the one win on the Flat but maintained a rating in the mid-80s. First start for new handler and heads off jumping, worth noting in the betting.

Form:

Fort Jefferson^p⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 104

11/2

Improved showing over hurdles last month at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) under this rider for the first time, going down less than 2L in second spot. Enters calculations here with repeat run.

Form: 256342-

General Picton¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

50/1

Six-year-old has only just got to make racecourse bow recently, not shown enough in two starts to merit confidence here. Plenty more needed, perhaps in handicaps.

Form: 9-0

Golden Friday¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

12/1

Showed some promise in two bumpers (including here) late last year for Sam Thomas, has switched stables and make hurdles bow here. Could be of interest.

Form: 58-

Swashbuckle^b1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| BF

5/2

In the mix in all three starts so far over timber and was a useful sort on the Flat (rated 92), blinkers are added now and has the form to make a bid for this prize.

Form: 341-4

Wimpole^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: M Scudamore

125/1

Down the field last week at Wincanton on hurdles bow, having been away slowly and never really shaped with any promise. Watching brief for now.

Form: 408-0

Aardwolf⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 112

5/2

Peak rating of 93 on the Flat and going right way in five starts over timber. Finished second (beaten 6L) at Market Rasen (2m½f, good) last week. Should be in the mix again under the champion jockey.

Form: 4U32-2

D'waterside²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane| OR: 99

66/1

Best effort so far over hurdles when fourth at Ludlow (2m, soft) in March, though didn't repeat the trick since at Huntingdon, and so remains hard to put faith in.

Form: 9040-

Eolian⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: O Murphy

22/1

Not the most straightforward on the Flat, showed something to build on in Warwick juvenile affair in February on hurdles debut. Should have more to come in time though may be playing for places at best here.

Form: 5-

Percy Thrower⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies

66/1

Flat maiden, pulled up at Hereford in January in sole try over timber. Watching brief advised now.

Form: P-

Crumpledandcreased²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: C Poste| T: O Murphy

25/1

Has shown bits of promise in bumpers for Willie Mullins previously, interesting now making first start over timber for this yard. Betting check certainly needed.

Form: 32427-

Midnight Aurora^h1

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton

14/1

Midnight Legend mare is a half-sister to five winners, including useful chaser Bekkensfirth and Nemenchka. Interesting on debut, though perhaps noteworthy that Harry Skelton looks elsewhere.

Form:

Katebird⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

40/1

Showed a little bit more on second hurdles start at Worcester last week, though that was over 2m4f, up from 2m. Still didn't do enough to warrant supporting here.

Form: 6-5

Forecasts

Aardwolf (5/2), Swashbuckle (5/2), Fort Jefferson (11/2), Fleeting Visit (6/1), Golden Friday (12/1), Midnight Aurora (14/1), Eolian (22/1), Crumpledandcreased (25/1), Katebird (40/1), General Picton (50/1), D'waterside (66/1), Percy Thrower (66/1), Bonjour Steve (100/1), Wimpole (125/1)

FORT JEFFERSON took a step forward at Sedgefield last month when finishing second over hurdles, and can easily be forgiven a sub-par run on the Flat at Chester since. Harry Skelton stays faithful here, and that might be worth noting. Aardwolf has been second on his last two starts and should go well along with Swashbuckle, who gets new headgear after a lesser effort last time out.