15:00 Bangor

Tuesday 5 June 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Our Ethel Cummins 90th Birthday Celebratory Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 4m 58.2s

Hidden Cargo²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 112

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden over timber, unseated rider on chasing bow at Kempton (2m4½f, good) last month. Was supported in the betting for that contest. Can get involved if getting around in one piece.

Form: 43/P68-U

Hoke Colburn²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 110| D

18/1

Winner of a bumper and a handicap hurdle (2m4½f, good) at Southwell in ten-race career so far. Out of sorts in two recent spins over hurdles, drops in trip and needs to bounce back now jumping a fence for the first time in public.

Form: 5/P16P-7

Captiva Island^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 110| BF

25/1

Ex Gordon Elliott inmate who isn't the most progressive of horses, but is largely a consistent performer. Unable to score in four hurdles starts for this yard, goes back up in distance now tackling fences for the first time.

Form: 24225-5

Sea's Aria¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M Goldstein| T: M R Hoad| OR: 104

22/1

Finished third in Novices' Limited Handicap at Stratford last month over a similar trip. Modest sort on all known form however and unlikely to improve on that showing.

Form: 5707-93

Cheltenam De Vaige²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 103| BF

7/2

Maiden hurdler of fairly limited ability it seems, unable to justify market support in three most recent outings in that sphere and will need to improve for meeting fences.

Form: 33P/22-4

Zolfo¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 100| CD

2/1

Returned form a break with career-best to win over C&D last month on sixth chase start, up 8lb for that win but should remain very much in the firing line given the opposition.

Form: 3FF64-1

Cafe Au Lait^p,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 99| BF| D

8/1

Made the frame in all six starts for this trainer over timber, but was favourite on five of those occasions and clearly find winning a struggle (placed 13 times in 36 runs, three wins). Now eight-years-old and tackling fences for the first time.

Form: 32223-3

Shininstar^h²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 84

8/1

Maiden, better effort last time at Worcester when finishing a never dangerous third of 10 over 2m½f on good ground. That was his fourth start in this sphere, now meets longer trip for the first time in his career.

Form: 08735-3

Forecasts

Zolfo (2/1), Cheltenam De Vaige (7/2), Hidden Cargo (9/2), Cafe Au Lait (8/1), Shininstar (8/1), Hoke Colburn (18/1), Sea's Aria (22/1), Captiva Island (25/1)

ZOLFO produced a much-improved effort when winning over this C&D on return to action last month and can double his tally now despite going up 8lb in the ratings for that success. Cafe Au Lait has been consistent for Dan Skelton over timber but tends to find winning hard, he can be in the finish on his first crack over fences. Shininstar and Hidden Cargo, who was backed on his chasing bow only to unseat, should be mixing it for minor honours.