18:13 Bangor-on-Dee

Friday 28 June 2024

All17:4018:1318:4819:2319:5820:3021:00

Beck's Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:13 | Winning time: 5m 5.47s

Varna Gold^b1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 119

12/1

Matched pick of hurdles form when third of 5 on chase debut at Tipperary in April. Not at that level completed start since but now goes handicapping with blinkers on switched to Britain.

Form: 7P/43-F5

Steppenwolf^t,p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 118

15/8

Winning hurdler/fair maiden chaser for Gavin Patrick Cromwell (sold 21,500 gns in February) and made perfect start for new connections on the back of a breathing op when landing 9-runner handicap at Ffos Las a month ago, cruising clear. 8 lb ruse may not prevent the follow up.

Form: 6U355-1

Clondaw Royale³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 115| CD

4/1

Made an encouraging start over hurdles when well on top when winning a maiden here (19.6f) in December. Looked set to finish a clear second when falling 2 out in handicap at Warwick (26f, heavy) in March but was a bit disappointing at Uttoxeter. Unexposed and now goes chasing minus tongue tie.

Form: 2/821F-4

Grey Skies³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| D

10/3

Dual winner in novice company last spring and added another runner-up to his collection at Cartmel a month ago. Eases 1 lb so another bold bid looks on the cards.

Form: 42524-2

Barton Knoll⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Mackie| OR: 112| D

28/1

Has been given a chance by the handicapper (now 13 lb below last winning mark), but he's no battler and didn't show much on last week's reappearance, albeit he may have needed it.

Form: 2/P364-0

Jerrash^v⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110

17/2

Three-time winner over hurdles (at up to 25f) who was perked up by fitting of blinkers when second over fences at Fontwell (27.7f) in January. Disappointed since, though.

Form: P2345-P

Peacocks Secret^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 110| D

20/1

Fit from points but last of 8 n a hunter on final start for D.Peters. Fair bit to prove back in a regulation handicap.

Form: 2P21-28

I Am Gonna Be^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 105| D

11/1

Fairly useful bumper/hurdles winner who may have just found the test too much back from 4 months off on yard debut when fifth at Cheltenham (25.2f) in April. Disappointing at Hereford since though so hopes rest on drop back in trip.

Form: P/28P5-P

Non-Runners

Quoi De Neuf³⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge

Deerstalker⁴⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Steppenwolf (15/8), Grey Skies (10/3), Clondaw Royale (4/1), Deerstalker (8/1), Jerrash (17/2), I Am Gonna Be (11/1), Varna Gold (12/1), Quoi De Neuf (12/1), Peacocks Secret (20/1), Barton Knoll (28/1)

STEPPENWOLF produced a career-best effort starting out for David Pipe when a ready winner at Ffos Las a month ago, and on that evidence, his revised mark looks within range. Grey Skies is a solid operator at this level so commands respect, while Deerstalker might show more on this second chase start.