14:35 Bangor

Saturday 1 December 2018

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

Stanley Roberts Chester Ltd 50th Anniversary Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 0.50s

Al Destoor^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J Candlish| OR: 113

15/2

Only two wins in 37 starts rather states the problem, very consistent under all codes but hard to win with. Recent Ayr second (heavy ground) reads well enough though, and a repeat of it gives him every chance. Any rain a plus.

Form: 3975/2-2

Bucaneros²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

50/1

Half-brother to a couple of winners but no immediate promise in debut effort at Newbury, and may need more time.

Form: 0

Corinto²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Murphy

66/1

Chasing type that was always well behind on debut at Newbury last month. Hard to see him taking a hand in the finish.

Form: 0

Finawn Bawn²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy

6/4

Bumper winner on debut at Ayr last May and ran a race full of promise on hurdles debut at Sandown last month, sticking to the task well to take third behind a useful looking type. Rain will help his cause, and he holds e/w chances here.

Form: 13

Khairagash⁹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss V WilliamsWS

40/1

First start for new yard, form in France nothing much to write home about and trainer still struggling for form, so hard to make a solid case for.

Form:

Oscars Leader²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 115

12/1

Couple of bits of form from last year would give him a shout here, such as his fourth to the classy Euxton Lane at Fontwell, but it's likely he'll need this run after a break and may be best watched unless string in the market.

Form: 444240-

Pogue¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

7/2

£100,000 purchase at Cheltenham sales in May after easily winning his point-to-point at Oldcastle, looks a useful prospect for leading trainer here and at worst needs a market check.

Form: 21

Star of Rory¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

100/1

Not without ability on the Flat (for Tom Dascombe) but was never really in the hunt on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter for new yard latest. One to watch, with handicaps in mind.

Form: 0

Top Of The Charts²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex

33/1

In good hands but in truth, a bit of a disappointment so far (well beaten favourite on debut) and looks modest on the evidence so far.

Form: 030

Two Sams¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M Blake

50/1

Winner of a farcical point-to-point at Ballyarthur in March but always behind on debut at Exeter, and no realistic chance here.

Form: P1-0

Arqalina¹²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams

40/1

Didn't complete in last two starts in France, half-brother Breakfast has been a hurdles winner this year but having not been seen out since 2015, can only be watched here.

Form: PF/

Diva Reconce³⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

11/4

Good winner on debut at Warwick, victorious despite greenness, and showed she had a future over hurdles when second to Chilli Filli at Ludlow in Deecmber. Been given time, gets mares allowance, and not to be taken lightly here.

Form: 1/2-

Forecasts

Finawn Bawn (6/4), Diva Reconce (11/4), Pogue (7/2), Al Destoor (15/2), Oscars Leader (12/1), Top Of The Charts (33/1), Arqalina (40/1), Khairagash (40/1), Two Sams (50/1), Bucaneros (50/1), Corinto (66/1), Star of Rory (100/1)

Pogue will be interesting if there's a market move, as the yard often introduce a good one here, and he looked useful when winning his point-to-point. But FINAWN BAWN bumped into a potentially smart one at Sandown when last seen and promises to be well served by this step up in trip. Diva Reconce gets a bit of weight and has been given time, so could easily leave behind what she's achieved to date.