16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Tuesday 5 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Flash: A Tribute To Queen Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 4m 50.94s

Taragrace^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101| BF

5/2

Won twice early in 2022 and better than ever under this conditional when runner-up at this venue on his last 2 outings. Another bold show is on the cards.

Form: 25P42-2

Never No Trouble^v1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101

10/3

Gained reward for her consistency when winning 8-runner maiden at Hereford (2m) in February. Placed on all hurdle starts this season, the latest when third over C&D a fortnight ago. First-time visor replaces blinkers. Likely to be thereabouts again.

Form: 73-2223

Calvic³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 97

9/2

Point winner who has reached the frame in maiden/novice hurdles around 2m this summer, showing enough to think he can be competitive from this opening mark. Longer trip might help too.

Form: 2F1P/42

Anger Management¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: J Ryan| OR: 93

14/1

Caused an upset in 4-runner juvenile event at Huntingdon in October but rather gone backwards since, finishing a well-beaten seventh back hurdling at Worcester 14 days ago.

Form: 2153P-7

Punk Rock Girl^p,t1⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 89

20/1

Poor form. Well held in Cartmel handicap when last seen at the end of June and a first-time tongue tie needs to make a big difference.

Form: 77PP-79

Balranald^p,t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 85| CD

11/1

Successful over fences at Sedgefield in winter 2021 and finally opened his account over hurdles in a C&D handicap in May. Backed that up when third here in June and freshened up since a lesser run at Perth later that month.

Form: 92-6137

Edmond Dantes^p,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 82

40/1

Back on track after a wind op when second of 10 in 2m handicap hurdle at Hexham in June but ran poorly at Cartmel 8 weeks later.

Form: U/88-626

My Poem³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 81

4/1

Made a successful reappearance for the second year running when accounting for 11 rivals at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in July. Good second at Uttoxeter (2m again) since. Player if stamina holds now stepping up in trip.

Form: 4562-12

Robeam^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 77

25/1

Showed that he retains some ability when fourth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (3m) in June, but has struggled since, including virtually refusing to race on one occasion. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: P-7V4P8

Luminaries⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 75

28/1

Offered very little in 6 starts thus far, pulling up at Fontwell when last seen in June. Ragamuffin has to be considered the yard's main hope.

Form: 9006-7P

Araglen Star¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 69

18/1

Poor form and easy to look elsewhere from 8 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 876635

Non-Runners

Ragamuffin⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: Joe Anderson

Forecasts

Taragrace (5/2), Never No Trouble (10/3), My Poem (4/1), Calvic (9/2), Ragamuffin (5/1), Balranald (11/1), Anger Management (14/1), Araglen Star (18/1), Punk Rock Girl (20/1), Robeam (25/1), Luminaries (28/1), Edmond Dantes (40/1)

RAGAMUFFIN won off higher marks than this over fences last summer and is taken to build on last week's back-to-form second at Worcester. Donald McCain pair Taragrace and Never No Trouble are pretty consistent and are likely to figure prominently again, while My Poem should also have a say if lasting out over this longer trip.