18:10 Bangor

Monday 20 August 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Rachel Jones Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 4m 10.40s

Omega Springs²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 105

14/1

Turned in a career-best on his stable debut last time out although his overall record of 1-31 leaves doubts as to the strength of his general form. Up 5lb for that effort but down in grade; chance if he reproduces his last run.

Form: 987-052

Zolfo³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 104| BF| C

9/4

Well supported when winning here in May after a break off a 12lb lower mark over 4f further and has for the most part run with credit since. Needs to put a lesser effort behind him back over a trip that has looked on the short side for him before.

Form: 64-1235

King Muro^h³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 102| CD

10/1

Yet to win over fences in four attempts but is a C&D winner over hurdles and looks attractively weighted on his old form. Hood now returns without the tongue-tie he usually wore with that headgear in a bid to regain some form; stable rather quiet.

Form: 513-846

Cahill⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 100| D

11/2

Multiple hurdle winner in the past few years at Les Landes (Jersey) (victorious in last two starts) and now switches to fences for his new yard. Hard to gauge the value of his form but would be of interest if the market shows positive signs.

Form: 11245/1

Isle Road⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: J Riches| OR: 95

7/2

Found a new lease of life after a break when winning over hurdles and fences (showing improved form) in May/June. Better than his last run (4th) would suggest when sent for home too soon after travelling strongly; up 2lb (still on a fair mark).

Form: 3P7-114

Sky of Stars^b¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: F Brennan| OR: 95

25/1

Dual hurdles winner last summer when with Olly Murphy his form since for that yard and his current one hasn't really progressed. Returned from a break in a selling hurdle last time (well below form) and now goes chasing for the first time.

Form: 35525-3

Mariners Moon^h²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 88

16/1

Struggles for consistency and that's been shown by his two runs since he returned from a break; failed to build on a reasonable return run last time. Now makes his chasing debut; yet to score over hurdles and overall career record stands at 1-40.

Form: 5459-49

Zoltan Varga²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: M R Channon| OR: 99| BF

4/1

Failed to win in bumpers and over hurdles (some fair efforts) and was expected to do better on his chase debut based on market expectations of him. Failed to live up to those though can't be written off and well worth another chance off same mark.

Form: 454-323

Welsh Designe^t³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 68

25/1

1-10 in point-to-points he's yet to win under Rules and has proved rather prone to errors. 11lb out of the weights here and not hard to look to other vistas for a win option.

Form: 6/55-654

Forecasts

Zolfo (9/4), Isle Road (7/2), Zoltan Varga (4/1), Cahill (11/2), King Muro (10/1), Omega Springs (14/1), Mariners Moon (16/1), Welsh Designe (25/1), Sky of Stars (25/1)

A mildly competitive contest for the grade and connections have every right to expect a better run from Zoltan Varga as he tries fences for the second time having been well supported on his fencing debut. Disappointing that time better is expected here but is yet to win under Rules and ISLE ROAD is preferred given his two wins earlier in the year. His 4th at Cartmel last time is better than it looks having been sent for home too early on the long run-in and he’s clearly better than that if given a more controlled ride. Omega Springs is no banker to repeat his last run while Zolfo looks to need further unless he is given a positive ride. Cahill is the dark horse of the race.