13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 20 April 2024

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Mayor Of Wrexham Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 6m 39.27s

Bampton Star^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 100| D

4/1

Stepped up on last season's maiden/novice hurdle exploits when runner-up on return/handicap debut in that sphere at Lingfield in February. Further progress equipped with cheekpieces/switched to fences the last twice, bagging back-to-back heavy-ground 3m handicap chases at Exeter. The one to beat.

Form: P53-211

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Nine Nine Nine⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: S-J Davies| OR: 92| BF

3/1

Off the mark at Leicester in January and doubled tally over 2½m back at that venue last month. Has remained in decent form since. albeit without leaving the impression that he has anything at all in hand of his current mark. Looks vulnerable back up in trip.

Form: 131334

Dusautior^p,t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 91| BF| D

9/4

No show in 3 starts over hurdles (all at 2m) but this former winning pointer predictably took a step forward when third upped to 23.6f for his chase/handicap debut at Huntingdon. The first-time cheekpieces he sported that day remain in place and he's a player off the same mark.

Form: 33-8093

Tara Cove^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 88| D

14/1

Multiple winning pointer who has yet to trouble the judge under Rules, including on chase debut at Leicester in January when pulled up in the handicap won by Nine Nine Nine.

Form: 9645P5

Le Grand Vert^b,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 86| BF

17/2

Successful over hurdles in France for Francois Nicolle back in 2021, which is his sole success form 25 starts overall. Record in this sphere stands at 0-14 but arrives here on the back of solid efforts in defeat at Wetherby and Newcastle (both at around 3m on testing ground). Major each-way chance.

Form: 7U3722

Caeruleum^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 86

4/1

Upped his game switched to fences for the first time when finding just one too good at Exeter (3m, heavy) in December. However, he has proved largely disappointing since and others bring more compelling claims to the table.

Form: 6-62452

Leading The Way^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 74

66/1

Modest maiden hurdler who offered little in pair of chase starts, latterly when well held last of 4 at Southwell (20.4f, heavy) in February. Mark has eased further but he can only be watched.

Form: 5-09674

Black Market⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 69

150/1

Fair ex-Irish hurdler but has shown little for current yard, pulled up again over hurdles at Stratford last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 96P3/P-P

Glenavaddra^t¹⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 45| DWS

80/1

Point winner but has shown nothing so far under Rules and is impossible to fancy from a long way out of the weights.

Form: PPP-0PP

Non-Runners

On The Platform⁵¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: B Clarke J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

Dusautior (9/4), Nine Nine Nine (3/1), Caeruleum (4/1), Bampton Star (4/1), Le Grand Vert (17/2), On The Platform (12/1), Tara Cove (14/1), Leading The Way (66/1), Glenavaddra (80/1), Black Market (150/1)

There could be more to come from BAMPTON STAR, who is unbeaten in two starts over fences and an 8 lb rise for his latest success at Exeter looks manageable given the way he went about his business that day. There were a number of factors which seemingly contributed to an improved display from Dusautior at Huntingdon and, if able to build on that, he may well emerge as the main danger ahead of Le Grand Vert.