14:55 Bangor

Wednesday 14 November 2018

All12:4513:2013:5014:2514:5515:3016:00

Hays Travel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 57.6s

Mister Fizz^p⁹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 144| D

9/1

Has completed a summer hat-trick for Alex Hales and has since moved to another new yard. Has struck up a good partnership with this rider but taking on stronger opposition here off a tough looking mark.

Form: 73-7111

Dashing Oscar^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H Fry| OR: 136| CD

12/1

Jumped well when making all to win this 12 months ago off 1lb lower. but not at his best since. Record here reads 2121 so hard to write off with stable hitting form.

Form: 1104-5P

Whatmore³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 135| C

3/1

Won here first time out last season and ended campaign with soft ground win at Warwick off 4lb lower mark. Arrives on the back of a solid reappearance and stable have an 8-24 record here with hurdlers in past five seasons.

Form: 14681-3

Wilde Blue Yonder²⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 134

11/4

Has only had 10 runs in past five years so clearly fragile. Hard to argue he is well-handicapped at present and others arrive proven fit.

Form: 40/334F-

Card Game²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: C R King| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 132| D

66/1

Wide margin winner at Hexham during the summer but she has been beaten on all seven starts from marks above 130.

Form: 9-13155

Ballyhill³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

16/1

Won Grade 3 handicap chase in heavy ground at Cheltenham in January off 133. Disappointing over fences on return and conditions promise to be on the quick side for him.

Form: F109P-8

Shalakar²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

20/1

French Flat stayer fully appreciated this longer trip when scoring at Ludlow in April. Fairly weighted on that form but stable have made a slow start to the winter campaign.

Form: P33331-

Silva Eclipse²⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122| BF

25/1

Winner on hurdles debut at Hexham last year (heavy ground) and ran at least as well in two subsequent defeats before disappointing on final start. Had a break and should do better again, but this ground is a concern.

Form: 1228-

Steel Wave²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G Hanmer| OR: 122| D

33/1

Ex-Willie Mullins chaser/hurdler acquired recently for £21,000. Has a consistent profile but one which suggests he faces a stiff task at the weights.

Form: B54632

Secret Legacy²²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

12/1

Consistent sort who got his head back in front at Uttoxeter in April after a string of placed efforts. Up in class and racing on quicker ground with his yard having gone off the boil lately.

Form: 33F331-

Present Ranger¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 121

3/1

Full brother to Grand National winner Ballabriggs has shown some promise whilst crying out for fences. Facing a tough task in tis company at the weights, but we are yet to see the best of him.

Form: 2/533-3

Forecasts

Wilde Blue Yonder (11/4), Whatmore (3/1), Present Ranger (3/1), Mister Fizz (9/1), Secret Legacy (12/1), Dashing Oscar (12/1), Ballyhill (16/1), Shalakar (20/1), Silva Eclipse (25/1), Steel Wave (33/1), Card Game (66/1)

Mister Fizz and Card Game have had good summers but are fully weighted as a result. Shalakar and Silva Eclipse should be winning races this term but both are likely to need this. Last year's winner Dashing Oscar has an excellent record here but his latest run makes him hard to recommend. As a result the vote goes to another course winner, WHATMORE, who ran well in the Silver Trophy having made much of the running. If building on that in a weaker race then he looks the obvious one to beat.