16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 8 June 2024

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Mike & Jill Medcalf 70th Birthday Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 3.94s

Emily's Choice^p⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

17/2

Off the mark at seventh attempt in points and won first 2 starts hurdles, conceding weight all round for the latest of them at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) in March. Turned in a poor effort on handicap debut (lost a shoe) last time, and attentions quickly switched to the larger obstacles.

Form: 2/5111P-

Gentle Connections³⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 103| D

9/2

Four-time winner over hurdles in first half of 2022 but she has struggled since, including both starts over the larger obstacles when last seen 13 months ago. Potentially a dangerous runner from this much-reduced mark on return with her yard flying.

Form: 16P0/54-

Smurfette²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 93

14/1

Placed in mares' bumper/novice hurdle but disappointed switched to handicaps last 3 starts (on chasing debut last time). Sold from Dan Skelton for just £4,000 last month, so she's best watched.

Form: 3/420-5P

Fancy Stuff^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: T R Gretton| OR: 93

11/8

Bumper winner who failed to progress over jumps for Dan Skelton. However, she'd dropped to an eye-catching mark given the pick of hurdles form and got off the mark with plenty in hand over fences at Stratford (19.4f, good) last month by 8½ lengths from The Gambler. Up 8 lb but can go in again.

Form: P3666-1

Admiral's Sunset^t,p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: D Weston| OR: 90

18/1

Sprung a surprise when winning at Stratford last year and proved she retains some ability after a 7-month break when fourth in that same race (19.4f, good) just under 3 weeks ago. Entitled to come on from that, so foolish to ignore dropped 4 lb.

Form: 12656-4

Stamina Chope¹⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 89

16/1

Has returned over hurdles in good form, winning over 25f at Plumpton. Found 2m an inadequate test when third at Leicester in November and got back on track without managing to get competitive when fifth at Hereford in January. Now back over the larger obstacles.

Form: 422135-

Cotton End^p⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 89| D

14/1

Losing run is mounting up and she's yet to find her form since her winter break. Headgear back on but looks an easy swerve despite a tumbling mark.

Form: 4435-56

Rory's Story^h,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 79

14/1

Pulled up sole start between the flags and while she was placed on 2 of her 3 starts in bumpers, this 5-y-o failed to pull up any trees over hurdles. Finished well held but showed aptitude for chasing after 4 months off recently and she should do better at some stage.

Form: 479P4-6

The Gambler^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young| OR: 75

9/1

Irish point winner last April. Also made a successful start under Rules in a Market Rasen bumper and having struggled after, showed her first form over obstacles from well out the weights when 8½ lengths second to Fancy Stuff at Stratford (19.4f, good) 20 days ago. Must build on that.

Form: 8P060-2

Oneway Express^v1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 73

20/1

Pulled up in a point recently and exploits over hurdles have been underwhelming, well held from 5 lb out of the weights at this course (23.2f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Visor on for chase debut but tough to see her getting seriously involved.

Form: 030P-P8

Non-Runners

Nowinittowinit¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Fancy Stuff (11/8), Gentle Connections (9/2), Emily's Choice (17/2), The Gambler (9/1), Nowinittowinit (10/1), Rory's Story (14/1), Smurfette (14/1), Cotton End (14/1), Stamina Chope (16/1), Admiral's Sunset (18/1), Oneway Express (20/1)

FANCY STUFF landed a few tidy bets when bolting up at Stratford just under 3 weeks ago and an 8 lb rise may not be enough to prevent her from going in again. She gets the nod ahead of chasing-debutante Emily's Choice, who won her first couple of starts over hurdles and can have a line put through her handicap debut at Uttoxeter 9 weeks ago (lost a shoe). Admiral's Sunset can edge out Rory's Story for third place.