15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Friday 30 July 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:55

Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 4m 3.5s

Sopat¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 103

20/1

Landed a 2m maiden hurdle at Fakenham in January but has struggled since, including on chasing debut at Worcester 15 days ago. Others are more appealing.

Form: 15884-6

Genever Dragon^p⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

14/1

Fair hurdler who has finished third without needing excuses the last twice. Now drops in grade and his yard tends to enjoy plenty of success at this track.

Form: 43093-3

Aumerle^h²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 100

18/1

Modest Flat winner who produced best effort over hurdles when fourth in a novice at Southwell on penultimate start. Not in same form next time but hood goes back on for handicap debut, now.

Form: 7-44

To Fly Free^p,t⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 101

33/1

Modest hurdler who arrives on the back of a tame display in first-time cheekpieces at Southwell 52 days ago. Temperament under suspicion.

Form: 3140-UP

Two Blondes^p1,h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 96

5/1

Maiden hurdler who has been back to form of late, third at Cartmel 11 days ago. Cheekpieces could spark a bigger effort, so makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 455-523

G'day Aussie^p,t⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 96| D

17/2

Not scored over timber since 2018 but showed some ability remains intact when third at Southwell returning from a long absence 52 days ago. Not a forlorn hope from handy mark.

Form: 42342/3

Grey Flint⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 92

28/1

Looked set to be placed when unseating late on hurdling debut at Newton Abbot in October, but hasn't matched that form since. Others more persuasive.

Form: U588-8F

Treasured Company²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 91

18/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and similar form so far over hurdles, only fourth in handicap at Uttoxeter last time. Needs more to compete off this mark.

Form: 43R4

Magical Thomas^t,v1¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 90| D

25/1

Generally out of sorts for a while, so needs a visor to have a positive effect if he's to make an impact from what is, admittedly, an appealing mark.

Form: 608-264

Pass Rusher^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 89

11/1

Modest hurdler who returned to this sphere (didn't take to chasing) with a good second from the front at Cartmel 11 days ago. Solid claims if he can back that up.

Form: 776-U72

Cawthorne^h,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 86

6/1

Opened his account over fences in impressive style at Sedgefield (2m) in May and has shaped as if still in form since, so worthy of interest off lower hurdling mark.

Form: 136-135

Throckley^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 86

11/1

Down the weights and has found a bit of form lately, albeit only a respectable fourth of 15 at Uttoxeter last time. Not shaping like a winner in waiting.

Form: 68-9624

White Turf^v1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 86

9/2

Modest hurdler who has been runner-up on 3 of his last 4 outings, including in 15-runner event at Uttoxeter 16 days ago. Should go well again in first-time visor.

Form: 33-2242

Cosheston^v1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 85

14/1

Still without a victory but third at this track on penultimate outing and may have needed the run returning from a break at Uttoxeter 16 days ago. Not one to write off with visor on for the first-time

Form: 54P/83-8

Invincible Wish¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 80

18/1

Four-time winner on the Flat and, after a slow start over hurdles, improved when first past the post (subsequently demoted for interference) in a handicap at Newton Abbot last time. Considered.

Form: 39/0-75D

Non-Runners

Rip Rocks Paddy Ok¹¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: J K Hunter J: Sam Coltherd

Lightning Blue⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: T R Gretton J: R T Dunne

Naasik¹⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: J R Norton J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

White Turf (9/2), Two Blondes (5/1), Cawthorne (6/1), G'day Aussie (17/2), Pass Rusher (11/1), Throckley (11/1), Cosheston (14/1), Genever Dragon (14/1), Invincible Wish (18/1), Treasured Company (18/1), Aumerle (18/1), Sopat (20/1), Magical Thomas (25/1), Lightning Blue (25/1), Grey Flint (28/1), To Fly Free (33/1), Naasik (66/1), Rip Rocks Paddy Ok (100/1)

GENEVER DRAGON has performed respectably in better races the last twice and, with Theo Gillard back on claiming 5 lb, he's fancied to put up a bold bid from the front at a track where his stable does well. His in-form stablemate, Two Blondes, may prove the main danger, although White Turf also warrants plenty of respect.