14:45 Bangor

Friday 14 December 2018

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Cliftons Of Wrexham Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 4m 5.75s

Colonel Custard²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| D

7/2

Newton Abbot bumper and novices' hurdle winner (latter on heavy), who was held in a Grade 2 last time. Still has very solid form and could make a good fist of this under his penalty.

Form: 3-115

The Some Dance Kid³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| CD

15/8

Won a maiden bumper at Catterick (good to soft) last season and added a maiden hurdle here (good to soft) last time. This will ask a stiffer question, but he is improving and entitled to enter calculations.

Form: 6/212-31

Arctic Road^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

100/1

Won an Irish point-to-point at the fourth attempt. Well held in both novice hurdles attempted this season and can only watch until there are signs of greater ability.

Form: 2312-90

Avantgardist¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver

100/1

0-11 on the Flat (OR 58), where his best form was over 1m2f, but he stays 2m. Probably one to watch on his hurdles debut.

Form:

Capmonfor¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

66/1

Has failed to show much in two hurdles runs so far and looks likely to make greater appeal when he has a handicap mark to work with.

Form: 4-3787

Chambard⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

25/1

Grade 1 bumper winner in France (1m4½f, good) in 2016. Off the track for almost two years ahead of his reappearance/stable debut, when well beaten here in October. Market check to gauge any confidence in a significantly better effort.

Form: 41312/9

Cross Of Steel^p1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

100/1

Has failed to show much in three starts so far. Cheekpieces now go on, but can only watch.

Form: 7-77

Discko Des Plages¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: R Hobson

40/1

Showing gradual improvement and to say he was 100-1, his hurdles debut was a respectable effort at Newbury recently. If he keeps going that way, he might not be far away from the frame this time.

Form: 67-0

Falco Blitz²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

9/4

Cost £40,000 after finishing runner-up in his sole run in an Irish point-to-point in May. Makes rules debut for top trainer, who usually has his runners ready to give a decent account.

Form: 2

Grey Diamond^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

12/1

Won a Ffos Las bumper on debut (good) in May. Made a promising debut over hurdles here in October, but unable to build on that last time. Still early days, tackles soft for the first time, but not ruled out if he handles it.

Form: 145

Passing Oceans²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Beaten a long way on his recent Chepstow hurdles debut. Drop in trip not certain to suit. Can only watch.

Form: 50

Rapper³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H D Daly

8/1

Showing steady improvement in bumpers and more recently on his hurdles debut here last month. Would be very interesting here if he can build on that again, and stable back among the winners.

Form: 346

Sam Chisolm¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies

250/1

Hinted at a bit of ability in a couple of Irish bumpers for Jessie Harrington, but 100-1 and showed little on his recent hurdles/stable debut. Can only watch at the moment.

Form: 76-40

Tim Rocco^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

50/1

Multiple Flat winner at up to 1m3f in Germany (inc on soft). Improved on his hurdles debut but still beaten 24L at Hereford last time. Could make more appeal when he goes handicapping.

Form: 07

Blue Ballerina¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Shoemark| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

200/1

Has shown little in three starts either side of wind surgery. Others readily preferred.

Form: 5-00

Incertaine¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Johns| T: T R Gretton

250/1

Returned after a six-month break with a ore promising effort at Warwick recently. Will still need plenty more than that to figure here.

Form: 69

Infiniti⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Leavy

250/1

2-22 on the Flat, where she is officially rated just 46. 100-1 and well beaten on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last month. Watch.

Form: 9

Rollercoster²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: L Heard| T: Henry Oliver

50/1

Cost £15,500 after winning an Irish point-to-point by a distance at the third attempt in March (soft/heavy). Half-sister to three winners from 2m3f-2m6f. Market check.

Form: P21-

Forecasts

The Some Dance Kid (15/8), Falco Blitz (9/4), Colonel Custard (7/2), Rapper (8/1), Grey Diamond (12/1), Chambard (25/1), Discko Des Plages (40/1), Rollercoster (50/1), Tim Rocco (50/1), Capmonfor (66/1), Passing Oceans (100/1), Arctic Road (100/1), Cross Of Steel (100/1), Avantgardist (100/1), Blue Ballerina (200/1), Sam Chisolm (250/1), Incertaine (250/1), Infiniti (250/1)

Plenty of runners, but probably not that many of them have serious chances. Colonel Custard would be among those who do, while former Grade 1 winner Chambard, newcomer Falco Blitz and easy Irish point-to-point winner Rollercoaster are both worth monitoring for any market confidence. Rapper has the potential to get more closely involved, while Grey Diamond and Discko Des Plages are respected. Preference, however, is for THE SOME DANCE KID, who is improving and may be able to defy a penalty.