14:55 Bangor

Wednesday 3 October 2018

All14:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:05

Malise Nicolson Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 4m 19.60s

The Herds Garden⁴⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

10/1

Record is just 1-34 so far, so hard to be confident about him, despite looking potentially well treated from this mark.

Form: U6P3/46-

Comber Mill^h,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-6| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Ralph| OR: 106

17/2

Ran up a hurdling hat-trick last winter when there was cut in the ground. Beaten 13L from this mark on chase debut, but has checked out early on his last two starts. Fair bit to prove.

Form: 119-2UU

Mountain Chimes²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 95

18/1

Form over hurdles failed to amount to much and was well held from 4lb higher in his only handicap. Pedigree leans more to that discipline than this, so looks very much one to watch on chase debut.

Form: 07/7878

Ortenzia^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 102

12/1

Beaten just 1½L from this mark over hurdles at Towcester (1m7½f, good to firm) in May, but well held since. Not an obvious chaser on pedigree and plenty to prove on debut.

Form: P-25747

Ballyantics¹²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91

9/2

Stays 3m. Ran well over 2m5½f (hurdles, good) at Newton Abbot last time. 2lb higher going into this chase debut and pedigree suggests that he is more likely to win races in this discipline than a number of these. Interesting.

Form: 83546-2

Hands Of Stone¹⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 90

7/2

0-11 and did better in bumpers on testing ground than over hurdles. Half-brother to a chase winner, so optimism that he could do better now, but has that to prove.

Form: 076864-

By Rail^h⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 98

7/2

Sole win was on the Flat in France (1m2f, good to soft) last year. Not disgraced on either chase start last month, being beaten 6L from 2lb higher in the more recent one. Should go well.

Form: 06-8322

Shininstar^h¹²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 82

4/1

0-5 over fences, but third in three of his last four, including from 7lb higher in March. Has a squeak on that basis, but probably still needs to be at his best to win.

Form: 8735-33

Non-Runners

Clearly Capable⁵⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: D Burchell J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Clearly Capable (10/3), By Rail (7/2), Hands Of Stone (7/2), Shininstar (4/1), Ballyantics (9/2), Comber Mill (17/2), The Herds Garden (10/1), Ortenzia (12/1), Mountain Chimes (18/1)

Another modest contest. Despite his record, The Herds Garden is respected given his connections' record at this venue. However, preference is for BALLYANTICS, who arrives in decent form for his chase debut is bred for this job. By Rail should again be involved, while the market should probably be checked to gauge any renewed confidence in Clearly Capable. Shininstar is not written off.