14:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 20 May 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Buck Pub Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 6m 2.81s

Coo Star Sivola²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112| D

13/2

Veteran who bagged the Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham in 2018 but not looked the force of old since returning from a lengthy absence, again failing to make an impact when fourth at Warwick (3m) 23 days ago. Assessor relinquishes his grip further but others preferred.

Form: 2/505P4-

Captain Tommy^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105| D

6/1

Disappointed on final start for David Bridgwater last spring and has offered little in 4 starts for present yard, a first-time visor (replaced by cheekpieces here) failing to spark a revival at Fakenham (29f) 11 days ago. Eased further 5 lb subsequently.

Form: 3/7P36-P

Kabrit²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 102| D

14/1

Dual chase winner at around 3m during 2021 who wasn't disgraced when fourth on final chase start at Uttoxeter (26f) in September. Unseated back from 8 months off at Ludlow (23.8f) 24 days ago but he's operating 3 lb below last winning mark.

Form: 32644U-

Lady Tremaine^b²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101| C| D

15/2

Dual winner over hurdles who, on the back of some solid runs in that sphere, made an encouraging start over fences when second at Ffos Las (19.4f) in March, a slow jump last proving costly. Similar form when third at Southwell (3m) latest and she's entitled to be in the mix again.

Form: 4/55423-

Heart Of A Lion²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 99

11/4

Lightly raced on the back of his chase debut success at Ludlow in 2021 but very much caught the eye under considerate handling when third at Fontwell (19.5f) 4 weeks ago, finishing with running left. That form has some substance and interesting from 2 lb lower mark upped to 3m.

Form: 34P/V33-

Your Band^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 98

9/1

Lightly raced since twice successful over hurdles at Uttoxeter in 2019 and has offered little all 3 starts in that sphere in recent months. Switch to chasing needs to spark a revival now.

Form: 352/056-

Robin Des Fox^p1,t¹¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: O Signy| OR: 97

13/2

Fair maiden hurdler who hasn't reached the same level in a couple of tries over fences, pulled up 2 out on the back of a wind op at Wetherby (24.2f) in January. Cheekpieces reached for on the back of 4 months off but would need to see market confidence to make him of interest.

Form: 422/5PP-

Oceans Red^p¹⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 93| CD

9/2

Three-time winner over fences with his latest success at Sedgefield (27f) in October. Probably best not judged too harshly on his non-completion at Taunton (23f) in November and he's no forlorn hope back from 6 months off with usual cheekpieces back on.

Form: 83312P-

Forecasts

Heart Of A Lion (11/4), Oceans Red (9/2), Captain Tommy (6/1), Robin Des Fox (13/2), Coo Star Sivola (13/2), Lady Tremaine (15/2), Your Band (9/1), Kabrit (14/1)

HEART OF A LION has been very lightly raced since his chase debut success at Ludlow in 2021 but arrives here having very much caught the eye from a long way back when third at Fontwell (19.5f) 4 weeks ago and, unexposed at this sort of trip, he could be worth chancing to build on that now. The returning Oceans Red and Kabrit head up the dangers, with Lady Tremaine not out of things either.