17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 18 May 2024

All15:5516:3017:0517:4018:1518:50

Wrexham Lager Draught At Fat Boar Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 3m 59.99s

Enki Flacke⁵⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 118| BF

22/1

Much-improved hurdler in 2022/23 for Gordon Elliott, successful 3 times at Perth in maiden and 2 novices. Mid-field in a Cheltenham handicap on final outing that season and not seen since, so market check advised starting for new yard ater 18 months off.

Form: 351110/

Oslo^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

7/1

Showed the benefit of a recent spin on the Flat when producing a career-best to land a 9-runner handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (15.8f, good) 23 days ago. Still not the most fluent of jumpers but has to be respected from 6 lb higher mark.

Form: 21/6251-

Ballygeary⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| C| DWS

7/2

Held form well after scoring over 19.6f here in December but latest eighth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (15.6f, good to soft) 49 days ago was a disappointing effort. Bounce back required.

Form: 312578-

Feel The Pinch^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 116| CD

12/1

Prolific since joining Robbie Llewellyn, gaining a fifth win for the yard in a handicap chase at Ludlow in November. Disappointing on following 2 outings, though, so others preferred after 5 months off despite good C&D record.

Form: 619144-

Rotten Row^t,p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 115

7/1

Ex-Irish gelding showed a bit more encouragement than previously for this yard when fifth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Kempton (16f, good, 50/1) 26 days ago. Others still preferred.

Form: P14245-

Sea Grey^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115

33/1

Fairly useful performer on Flat who got off the mark for new connections over hurdles at Catterick (19.3f) in December. Disappointing both starts over timber since and though recent Flat fourth was an adequate effort, others still appeal as likelier winners.

Form: 2159-

Pillar Of Steel⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 111

28/1

As good as ever when getting back to winning ways in mares' handicap at Straftford in August. Rejoined this yard after a spell with James Evans prior to an underwhelming comeback from 7 months off last week and will need to step forward on that effort to resume winning ways.

Form: 31364-6

Nelson River^b1²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 110| CD

66/1

Useful sort at his best but clearly regressive nowadays and is easily opposed.

Form: 25P46/0-

Jazz King²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 110

66/1

Looked a useful prospect when making a winning chase debut at Ludlow last March but then left Sam Thomas and has shown nothing to be positive about in 2 starts for this yard. Something to prove back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 43P1/PP-

Commanding View³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 105

3/1

Opened his account at Plumpton in December and back on track when runner-up at Market Rasen. Still relatively unexposed and should be in the mix.

Form: 46/6102-

Goblet Of Fire¹⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 109

4/1

Won 3 of his last 4 starts on the Flat for Nigel Tinkler and made the most of a good opportunity on his second hurdle start at Hereford (16.2f) in January. Failed to improve sent handicapping at Huntingdon (15.8f, heavy) next time but it remains early days.

Form: 414-

Arctic Fox²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 95

14/1

Fairly useful stayer on the Flat produced her best effort over hurdles when runner-up in a C&D mares' maiden in September. On a workable opening mark in this sphere comparative to her Flat form and is respected after a recent spin on the level.

Form: P/F26-

Equus Millar^v⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring| T: S-J Davies| OR: 82| DWS

150/1

Regressive nowadays, pulling up on his last 2 outings. Impossible to fancy from out of the weights.

Form: 7590/PP-

Forecasts

Commanding View (3/1), Ballygeary (7/2), Goblet Of Fire (4/1), Rotten Row (7/1), Oslo (7/1), Feel The Pinch (12/1), Arctic Fox (14/1), Enki Flacke (22/1), Pillar Of Steel (28/1), Sea Grey (33/1), Jazz King (66/1), Nelson River (66/1), Equus Millar (150/1)

COMMANDING VIEW pulled a long way clear with a progressive rival at Market Rasen last time and Mel Rowley's unexposed gelding is fancied to go one better. Oslo was well placed when scoring at Huntingdon last time but still merits plenty of respect after a career-best performance, with the lightly-weighted mare Arctic Fox an interesting handicap newcomer.