16:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Wednesday 4 October 2023

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:35

tote.co.uk Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 6m 2.87s

Burbank^b¹⁶⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 121

40/1

Back to form out of the blue when springing a 33/1 surprise in 26.5f Perth handicap hurdle in April, benefiting from an enterprising ride. Remains to be seen whether he's allowed quite so much rope again.

Form: 5P/PPP1-

King's Threshold¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 118| BF

5/1

Showed improved form switched to handicaps when winning 12-runner event at Exeter (21.6f, soft) in April. Failed to get home on worsening ground when stepped up to this kind of trip at Kempton on next start but certainly worth another go to test his stamina and is respected.

Form: 38/341-4

Punxsutawney Phil^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 116

12/1

Winless on Flat since December 2022 and ran just respectably on return to hurdling when sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Hexham (20.1f, good, 11/2) 28 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter having since left Brian Ellison.

Form: 12234-6

Halifax^p,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 114| CD

17/2

Bagged his third success for his current yard in 7-runner C&D handicap early last month and ran creditably when 8 lengths fourth of 8 to Classic Concorde in handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Still requires bit more from this kind of mark.

Form: 216314

Ballycamus¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113| BF

9/2

Doubled his career tally when scoring at Newbury (24.2f, soft) in March, seeming to relish the emphasis on stamina back up in trip. Beaten only by a progressive rival at Ludlow on next start and possibly found busy spell catching up with him on final outing of the season, so isn't discounted.

Form: 5P212-P

Olivers Travels¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 116| D

3/1

Runner-up in an Irish point before landing a brace of bumpers this summer. Opened hurdles account at the second attempt at Worcester (23f) last month and looked blatantly unsuited by the return to 2m when second at Uttoxeter last time, so should have more to offer now handicapping over further.

Form: 2-11312

Dee Star^p,t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: K Brogan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 109

33/1

Won veterans' chase at Cartmel in May and got back on track when second in 8-runner event there towards the end of August, Unraced over hurdles for almost 5 years, though, so looks far from well treated returning to this sphere.

Form: 2-515P2

Morricone¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 104

6/1

Showed further improvement to run out a comprehensive winner of an 11-runner handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (17.8f, soft, 5/2) 19 days ago. Very much appeals as the type to progress again but this markedly longer trip is an unknown.

Form: 00S/021

Classic Concorde^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 103| D

9/2

Ended a near 3-year losing streak at Worcester in August before following up in straightforward fashion there last month, well served by his quick jumping technique. Up a further 5 lb but should be in the mix again.

Form: P23211

Non-Runners

Isthebaropen³⁴

Weight: 12-2| Age: 10

T: G Hanmer J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Olivers Travels (3/1), Classic Concorde (9/2), Ballycamus (9/2), King's Threshold (5/1), Morricone (6/1), Isthebaropen (8/1), Halifax (17/2), Punxsutawney Phil (12/1), Dee Star (33/1), Burbank (40/1)

Dual bumper winner OLIVERS TRAVELS ran well despite seeming unsuited by the drop in trip at Uttoxeter last time and Peter Bowen's gelding looks just the type to do better handicapping over this kind of trip. Irish raider Morricone is most progressive and appeals as particularly interesting taking a marked step up in trip, whilst Classic Concorde is also respected in search of the hat-trick.