16:20 Bangor

Friday 3 August 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

SG Estates Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 3m 55.10s

Chieftain's Choice^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: K Frost| OR: 110| D

14/1

14lb lower than three starts ago but that's due to a distinct lack of form in his last three starts. Undeniably well handicapped but needs a leap of faith given current form.

Form: 32300-6

Thahab Ifraj^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 109

9/1

Stratford novice hurdle last August but has drawn a blank in nine starts since both on the Flat and over hurdles. Seemed to enjoy first-time blinkers last time out when sound runner-up at Stratford and won't be far away.

Form: 5/421-42

Samtu^p,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 108| CD

40/1

Won over C&D back in 2016 off 10lb higher mark and has been successful on Flat at Southwell three times since. Tailed off recently on first start for new yard and looks to be struggling for form at the moment.

Form: 1827/0-6

Oakmont^h,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: J C McConnell| OR: 106

2/1

Irish raider who has shown improved form on last two starts and with the champion jockey now on board very much catches the eye as one likely to be very much in the thick of the action.

Form: 8/00-25

Watt Broderick^t⁹⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Edward Austin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105| D

25/1

Returns from 940-day absence so fitness has to be a major issue. Had decent form three seasons ago but it would be some training performance if he were to win this.

Form: 221880/

Presenting Streak^h⁶⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 105| D

33/1

Been off the track for 659 days so will do well to be cherry ripe first time back. Won twice in July 2016 and now 7lbs lower so fairly handicapped if there are no cobwebs there.

Form: 33112P/

Wazowski²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

13/2

Won at Sedgefield in January off a mark of 100 but has looked weighted to the hilt when running well in each of last two starts. Should be thereabouts again but a place may be the best he can hope for.

Form: 4216-34

St George's Oval³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: L Heard| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 105

12/1

Yet to score but ran well when second at Huntingdon in May and ran creditably off 5lb higher mark at Cartmel last time when ridden from off the pace. May be ridden closer to the pace this time.

Form: 7785-24

No Alarm³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 105

100/1

Yet to win in five starts so far and pulled up last time out at Southwell so despite representing good yard looks to be up against it on recent evidence.

Form: P/554-7P

Get Ready Freddy^t³⁷

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

5/1

Won at Uttoxeter in May and was getting closer at Southwell in June off 12lb higher mark when hampered 2 out and couldn't recover. Modest effort latest over fences, but back over hurdles looks a proper contender.

Form: 148-146

Richard Strauss^p,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: P A Kirby| OR: 100

50/1

Won mile handicap for Joseph O'Brien in 2017 but yet to score under either code for current handler and ran badly here on last hurdles start back in May. Others make more appeal.

Form: 37654-8

Hermanus^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 98| D

8/1

4lb higher than win last time out when stayed on to win 5-runner contest at Cartmel. Goes well for this rider and is clearly in good heart so has a sporting chance of following up.

Form: 3-63371

Hes Our Robin^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 85

14/1

33-racer maiden but ran OK last time when fair third at Worcester in similar event. Hard to get too enthusiastic though given ability to avoid the judge for so long.

Form: 463-003

Centreofexcellence^h,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen| T: S Flook| OR: 80| BF| C

20/1

Made all to win here over 2m3f in April and ran fairly well following two starts before modest effort last time at Stratford. 4lb out of the handicap and looks up against it.

Form: 431-438

Forecasts

Oakmont (2/1), Get Ready Freddy (5/1), Wazowski (13/2), Hermanus (8/1), Thahab Ifraj (9/1), St George's Oval (12/1), Hes Our Robin (14/1), Chieftain's Choice (14/1), Centreofexcellence (20/1), Watt Broderick (25/1), Presenting Streak (33/1), Samtu (40/1), Richard Strauss (50/1), No Alarm (100/1)

Richard Johnson takes the mount on OAKMONT and the hint should be taken as the five-year-old has run with credit on his last wto starts in Ireland. Hermanus bids to follow up his recent win at Cartmel off just 4lb higher, and Thahab Ifraj ran well in first time blinkers last time out and has claims if they have the same effect again. Chieftain's Choice is respected down in grade and off a much lower mark than of late, but Get Ready Freddy might give the selection most to do having looked unlucky when hampered last time.