13:11 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 2 December 2023

All12:3613:1113:4414:2114:5615:31

Richard Pennell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 19.44s

Feel The Pinch^t⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 117| CD

11/8

Has had a productive time since joining Robbie Llewellyn, gaining a fifth win since March when readily seeing off 5 rivals in a Ludlow handicap chase (2m, soft) on Monday. Good shout off the same mark back hurdling if coping with the quick turnaround.

Form: 116191

Chti Balko¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116| C

13/2

Winless since December 2020 but has finished runner-up on his 2 outings this season 6 months apart. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 0/423-22

Thunderclap²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: H Morrison| OR: 112| D

13/2

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat and made steady progress in this sphere last season, winning a Sedgefield maiden in April. His opening handicap hurdle mark looks workable if he's ready to roll after 7 months off.

Form: 67421-

Transatlantic^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 112WS

33/1

Won a 2m Huntingdon novice hurdle for Gary Moore in April 2022 but not seen again until finishing down the field in an Ayr handicap hurdle for this yard 4 weeks ago. Might strip fitter for the run. Has had wind surgery.

Form: F5P31/9

Polyphonic^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 107

14/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner. Bounced back quickly from a poor run at Kempton when third of 5 at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) a fortnight ago.

Form: 22-P303

Heritier^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 101| D

6/1

Dual winner over fences last autumn. Ended season in a slump but was revitalised by a switch back to hurdling with his first run of the season behind him when taking advantage of lower hurdles mark at Uttoxeter 2 weeks ago. Retains handicapping scope on chase form.

Form: 9355-91

Icarat²²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 96WS

7/2

Fair form in French bumpers for Nick Littmoden. Best effort in maiden/novice hurdles for new yard in the spring when fourth of 9 at Ffos Las in April. Interesting now handicapping for the first time on reappearance with his stable in very good form.

Form: 1/27P4-

Non-Runners

John Betjeman¹⁹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: Mark Gillard J: Fergus Gillard

Risk D'Argent²⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Feel The Pinch (11/8), Icarat (7/2), Heritier (6/1), Risk D'Argent (6/1), Chti Balko (13/2), Thunderclap (13/2), John Betjeman (8/1), Polyphonic (14/1), Transatlantic (33/1)

A competitive race. FEEL THE PINCH really has discovered the winning habit for this stable and may be able to go in again if over his exertions at Ludlow on Monday. Sedgefield maiden winner Thunderclap looks on a good opening handicap mark in this sphere if ready to roll after a break and is second choice ahead of Risk d'Argent. Icarat is a handicap newcomer to note in the betting, while Heritier is also worth a look.