14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Wednesday 28 February 2024

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

John Hewitt Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 59.05s

Malpas^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100| D

9/1

A fair winner at 17f over hurdles in early 2022 who made a much better fist of things on second chase try (following wind op) when third on return at Carlisle (2m) in December. May have found stamina stretched back up at 20f at Leicester since and this is more suitable.

Form: 3566-37

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Happy Du Mesnil^p1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 95

8/1

Maiden hurdler who made mistakes and never figured on sole chase try in late 2022. Offered little back from 14 months off over hurdles at Southwell in January and only market support would make him of significant interest on return to chasing for new stable. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 32/264-P

Broadford Publican⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 95

50/1

Modest form in Ireland and hard to derive much encouragement from his 3 hurdle outings for present yard in recent months. Chase debut.

Form: 89-5877

Thatza Dazzler^h⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 77

6/4

Offered little before causing a surprise to open account over fences at Ludlow (2m, heavy) 7 days ago, settling better than previously and well served by coming off a strong gallop. Whether he can reproduce that form under a penalty is open to question, however.

Form: 9PP6U1

Staar^p⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 77

4/1

Placed both starts in points in 2018 and very lightly raced to date over hurdles, going backwards from return effort when seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f) 47 days ago. Market may prove a good guide now sent chasing.

Form: 887/2-77

Yellow Jacket^t1⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 76

10/3

Maiden who ran well behind a subsequent winner over C&D in December but ran disappointingly when fifth of 6 in handicap chase at Market Rasen (17.2f) in January. Not out of things if he can shrug that off. Tongue tie applied.

Form: 6324-25

Money For Jam^t⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: S Allwood| OR: 71

12/1

Made frame sole start in points but little worthwhile form under Rules.

Form: 34P-PP9

Non-Runners

Shady B³⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: C Boultbee-Brooks J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien

Robins Field²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: H Dickin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Thatza Dazzler (6/4), Yellow Jacket (10/3), Staar (4/1), Robins Field (6/1), Shady B (6/1), Happy Du Mesnil (8/1), Malpas (9/1), Money For Jam (12/1), Broadford Publican (50/1)

YELLOW JACKET needs to shrug off a lesser effort at Market Rasen but he'd previously ran well when chasing home a next-time-out winner over C&D and could be worth siding with to bounce back equipped with a first-time tongue strap. His stablemate Malpas and chase debutant Shady B head up the dangers in a trappy opener.