12:20 Bangor

Saturday 1 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

starsports.bet Beginners' Chase

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 5m 19.60s

Blu Cavalier²⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| BF| D

9/2

Improving hurdler throughout last year, although suffered a very short-price reversal when last seen out. Bred to make a chaser and had a break, so if fit, looks one of the more likely contenders, with this trip no issue.

Form: 44111-2

Calipso Collonges^h,t²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 127| DWS

33/1

Rattled off the wins in handicap hurdles last year and looked useful, probably found himself in too hot company on final start and ought to make a chaser, but overall form doesn't match one or two of these and improvement is needed.

Form: 811110-

Caro Des Flos³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 124

100/1

Second start for this yard, winner in Ireland for Willie Mullins but well beaten on English debut over hurdles and on that, can only be watched for the time being.

Form: 8225-10

Coole Cody^h,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Blake| OR: 140| D

11/2

Useful hurdler that probably didn't get the credit he should have done for his Cheltenham win around this time last year, not disgraced on chase debut at Ffos Las and will have learnt a bit from that. Any rain a plus and may get in the places.

Form: 2/111P-4

Euxton Lane¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 139

9/4

Classy hurdler that always threatened to make an even better chaser, easy wins at Fontwell and Newbury last year marked hi out as smart and he looked very much in need of the run on chase debut at Carlisle. Will improve plenty on that.

Form: 72117-3

Jerrysback¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

50/1

Winner of both his novice hurdle starts last year and another that always looked like he would do better over fences. Inauspicious start to chasing career at Cheltenham a fortnight ago though, and may need a bit more match practice.

Form: 2F111/5

Mr Mcgo⁶⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130| C

16/1

Was in the process of making up into a useful hurdler back in 2016/2017 but not seen out since finishing well beaten at Aintree some 18 months ago. Should make a chaser but after such an absence, can only be watched today.

Form: 191179/

Mulcahys Hill^p1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 140| D

4/1

Classy hurdler., almost stole the Grade 2 Challow Hurdle at Newburuy last year, worn down late. However, never looked the same horse after that and starts chase career with a couple of question marks hanging over him.

Form: 1124P-6

Tommy Rapper^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

9/2

Lengthy gelding that has the scope for fences, got the hang of hurdles earlier in the year and progressed nicely. Perfectly acceptable first go over fences at Stratford in October when third to the useful Bags Groove, and not out of this.

Form: 21119-3

Forecasts

Euxton Lane (9/4), Mulcahys Hill (4/1), Blu Cavalier (9/2), Tommy Rapper (9/2), Coole Cody (11/2), Mr Mcgo (16/1), Calipso Collonges (33/1), Jerrysback (50/1), Caro Des Flos (100/1)

A crackerjack of a contest to kick proceedings off with, one that would grace any card, and it should prove informative. Mulcahys Hill always looked a chaser and might be able to put some poor efforts behind him if jumping with gusto, and similar comments apply to Blu Cavalier, beaten at prohibitive odds when last out but surely better than that. Coole Cody and Tommy Rapper could make the grade in time but EUXTON LANE threatens to make up into a top-class chaser in time and with the Carlisle pipe-opener under his belt, can start his march to the top here.