14:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Friday 9 December 2022

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:3515:1015:45

DTS Scaffolding Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

Third only start in points and promising start in bumpers. Hit the line with running left when second to a good prospect at Chepstow on hurdling debut last month but failed to build on that when down the field at Ascot 16 days later. Remains one to be positive about.

Form: 343-25

Haafback^h²⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs E Bishop

Offered little in a pair of bumpers earlier in the year so very tough to see him featuring now hurdling.

Form: 99-

Howlingmadmurdock²⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

Soldier of Fortune gelding. Closely related to useful bumper winner/useful hurdler Easy As That and landed a Fontwell bumper in good style on his debut in February. Left Anthony Honeyball for £26,000 soon after. Interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: 1-

Howyouplaythegame⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C J Todd| T: S Allwood

Showed little in a brace of bumpers and didn't fare any better on his first couple of starts over hurdles, latest after 10 months off. Easily opposed.

Form: 48/0-8

Imperial Alex^h1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: T Lacey

Placed in a point but little promise in an Irish bumper for Miss Elizabeth Anne Lalor. Stepped up on yard/hurdles debut when mid-field at Hereford last month and a first-time hood is applied today.

Form: 2F3-478

Ivar³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| BFWS

Fair form when runner-up in a pair of 4-y-o events at Pau in December last year and filled that same position on return/yard debut over C&D last month, held run-in but pulling clear of rest. Had wind op since so holds leading claims with a repeat.

Form: 22-2

Mangrove River³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Brace

Placed in points but little to shout about so far in a pair of 2m novice hurdles. Need furthers further than this so looks one for later on.

Form: P-357

Night Jet²⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds

Out of a mare who did well for the same connections and fair form in a couple of bumpers. Offered something to work on making hurdling bow when mid-field in a Ludlow maiden back in February and he could have more to offer.

Form: 565-

Out For The Count¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

Soundly beaten in 2 Irish bumpers for Philip Fenton and fared no better in couple of novice hurdles for this yard at Wetherby last month.

Form: 7096

Realm Of Glory²⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

Encouraging third on only start in bumpers in November 2021 but failed to build on promise of that run when fifth in a Chepstow maiden hurdle (19.4f) in February. Yard in fine form and this should reveal more.

Form: 35-

Rebel Mc^t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

No impact in pair of C&D novice hurdles so he's impossible to fancy. Tongue tie applied.

Form: 4F-P9

Soldier Of Destiny^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 131| BF

Dual 2m4f chase winner who shaped encouragingly when fifth in handicap chase at Aintree (19.9f) on return in October. Likely have finished a creditable third had completed at Wetherby since so fancied to figure back over the smaller obstacles today.

Form: 5131-5F

Uncle Bert³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

Pether's Moon gelding who has plenty about him physically and produced a promising first effort when runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Sandown (16f, heavy) last month (racing abandoned after). Should improve so fancied to be in the mix.

Form: 2

Via Dante^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

Failed to land a real blow in a couple of starts between the flags earlier this year and looked one for the longer term starting out in a hood in Taunton novice hurdle recently.

Form: 548

Volatore³²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies

Well held in 2 bumpers and just minor promise on first of 2 starts over hurdles at Ludlow last season. Best watched.

Form: 60/50-

Lady Berlais¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick| T: T Symonds

Limited impact in a trio of bumpers and never involved on his first crack at hurdling last month.

Form: 5906

Libertarian Royale²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: T Symonds

No impact in a bumper at Cheltenham in April and similar story on return sent hurdling after a breathing operation/with a tongue tie applied at Hereford last month.

Form: 0-P

Forecasts

Ivar (11/8), Bubble Dubi (9/2), Uncle Bert (5/1), Howlingmadmurdock (6/1), Soldier Of Destiny (7/1), Realm Of Glory (10/1), Night Jet (10/1), Lady Berlais (50/1), Imperial Alex (66/1), Mangrove River (66/1), Via Dante (66/1), Volatore (100/1), Howyouplaythegame (100/1), Libertarian Royale (100/1), Haafback (100/1), Out For The Count (100/1), Rebel Mc (100/1)

Only a handful of these make any serious appeal, with IVAR selected to go one better than on his 3 previous outings having had a breathing operation since last seen. Soldier of Destiny would likely have finished a creditable third but for departing late on at Wetherby last month so he can give the selection most to think about back over timber today. Uncle Bert and Howlingmadmurdock are another couple fancied to feature.