14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 23 March 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Broxton Gates Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 48.40s

Flashjack⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: H D Daly| OR: 135

5/2

Victorious in a small field 3m2f handicap hurdle at Fontwell (soft) on his return from a break a week ago. Raised 3lb for that victory and is a notable runner in this contest.

Form: 15-2351

Tawseef⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130| CD

20/1

C&D winner under this rider on heavy ground in December 2017. Well beaten in all three starts since however and market support would be notable off a mark 4lb lower than for that victory.

Form: 121-860

Ballycross^p⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128

10/1

Pulled up on both starts since finishing 13L third in a 3m2f handicap chase at Carlisle (good) in November. Returning from a break and interesting to see how he performs on his return to hurdles.

Form: 1-243PP

Driftwood Haze⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 120

5/1

Good neck second in a 3m handicap hurdle at Ludlow (good-to-soft) in January. Drop in trip should suit having finished fourth over 3m2f at Warwick (good-to-soft) later that month.

Form: 455-324

Looks Like Power^h,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 120

5/1

Placed over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (soft) in December and a fair effort when 12L fifth in a big field handicap over an extended 2m7f at Ascot (good-to-soft) last month. Vulnerable to better handicapped rivals however.

Form: 141-435

Never Equalled^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 117

13/2

Returned from a break with a 13L fourth in a 2m3f selling hurdle at Taunton (good) at the end of last month. Step back up in trip a concern on his return to handicaps.

Form: 14-7554

Steel Wave⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: G Hanmer| OR: 115

16/1

Winner of three races in Ireland and was beaten 26L in a 2m4f handicap chase at Leicester (good-to-firm) in December. Returns to hurdles following a break.

Form: 632743

Samson's Reach^b1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: James Bowen| T: R J Price| OR: 110| C

4/1

Good second in first time cheekpieces (replaced with blinkers here) over 2m5f at Ludlow (good) last month. Decent fourth subsequently and is one to note having won here in the past.

Form: 616724

Forecasts

Flashjack (5/2), Samson's Reach (4/1), Driftwood Haze (5/1), Looks Like Power (5/1), Never Equalled (13/2), Ballycross (10/1), Steel Wave (16/1), Tawseef (20/1)

FLASHJACK was a winner last time out and he can follow-up that victory with success in this eight runner staying handicap hurdle. The selection has underfoot conditions to suit and he can get the better of Samson's Reach who receives weight from all of his rivals. Looks Like Power ran well in defeat at Ascot last time out and he can take third.