14:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Friday 7 February 2020

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:50

Proactive Personnel Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 8m 51.45s

Sheneededtherun^t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 120

7/1

Admirable mare who continues to climb up the weights. Didn't look as though she was ready to stop progressing on her upward curve when scoring at Wetherby (3m; soft) in December. Despite the 8lb rise, she is more convincing than most.

Form: 5P-2111

Angels Antics^b1⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 112

12/1

Still chasing elusive first career success over fences after seven attempts, and she did post an encouraging display at Newcastle (2m7f; heavy) on her penultimate start. However, she reverted to hurdles most recently & was tailed off. Hard to fancy.

Form: 6334-27

Big Difference³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 110

4/1

Only had the two chase starts, and has shown enough promise in each of them to suggest he should be winning sooner rather than later. Stable form a huge concern (0-19) though, as it has been for most of the season.

Form: 0/971-34

Clondaw Bisto^b¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 107

10/1

Inconsistent sort who broke his duck over fences on his penultimate start. Subsequently failed to deal with 7lb hike in the weights when pulled-up at Plumpton (3m1f; heavy) last time out. Cannot be recommended with any sort of confidence after that.

Form: 2P5-31P

Benechenko^b1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107

4/1

Yard in-form at present (operating at a 30% strike-rate/7-23 in last 14 days), and although he is 0-3 over fences, he is one of the more lightly raced sorts in this race. Should be there or thereabouts on basis of chase form thus far.

Form: 83/4-423

High Counsel^p¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 107

5/1

10lb higher mark to contend with after notching the hat-trick in emphatic style by seven-length at Warwick (3m1f; soft) 16 days ago. Never won off a mark as high as this before, but looks an improved sort and is difficult to rule out.

Form: 532111

Misfits^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107

12/1

Moderate strike-rate (2-36 under rules), and he looked laboured when a distant fourth at Kelso (3m2f; soft) last month. Yard do okay at this track (12-70; 17% strike-rate overall), but he looks one of the less likely ones to add to that tally.

Form: 2-52634

Alberto's Dream²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 106

9/1

Enjoyed a very successful time of things in 2018. Found life tough in recent times off higher mark, but he is now 1lb below his last winning mark. Market check strongly advised with that in mind.

Form: 12/75-58

Steel Native⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: D A Rees| OR: 98| C

15/2

Very patchy profile is off-putting to begin with, including the fact he has unseated his rider on two of his last three starts. Last tasted success over 3m at this track in March 2019, but has been on a downward spiral since. Watching brief advised.

Form: P50U6U

Cruising Bye^p,t³⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 90| C

20/1

Veteran who has failed to complete on two of his previous three starts, most recently at Uttoxeter (3m; heavy) when he was really struggling. 5lb below his last winning mark, but looks nowhere near winning form so can be readily opposed.

Form: 634P3P

Forecasts

Benechenko (4/1), Big Difference (4/1), High Counsel (5/1), Sheneededtherun (7/1), Steel Native (15/2), Alberto's Dream (9/1), Clondaw Bisto (10/1), Misfits (12/1), Angels Antics (12/1), Cruising Bye (20/1)

The more lightly raced duo of Benechenko and Big Difference are interesting. The former is yet to convince over fences, despite finishing thereabouts on each of his three starts over fences. The application of blinkers/rude health of his stable adds to his chances. Confidence would be higher in the latter if his yard weren't so woefully out of form, but he should still have a part to play. However, this can go to SHENEEDEDTHERUN who bids for a four-timer after recording a trio of victories under Charlie Todd. Her most recent effort suggests she still has more to come. The similarly in-form High Counsel can chase her home despite not winning off as high a mark previously.