14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 12 April 2025

All13:3514:0814:4515:2015:5916:3417:09

Pentraeth Subaru Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 42.17s

Grey Skies^t²⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110| D

20/1

Hasn't raced over hurdles since 2022 but was a dual winner of novice chases back in 2023. Proved inconsistent towards the back end of last season and produced a lacklustre display (after 3 months off/ wind surgery) when last seen in September. Bit to prove on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 524-264

Camarrate^p1,t⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

12/1

Landed a brace in maiden/novice company and offered some promise on his reappearance/handicap debut at Aintree in November but well held both starts since (latest after wind surgery) and now moves up in trip with first-time cheekpieces enlisted. Questions to answer.

Form: 21-1350

Don Rafael³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 106| D

4/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Stratford in July and doubled his tally in handicap at Hereford in November. Found it tougher in a better race at Ascot the following month but did hit the frame back in calmer waters (after 12 weeks off) at Warwick (2m) last month. Place claims back up in trip.

Form: 323194

Tchoupinminzac^p1⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 105

16/1

Dual bumper winner showed promise in 2022 but stood little racing since. Failed to come on for the reappearance when third in a Huntingdon novice (20.6f) last month. First-time cheekpieces need to spark improvement on handicap debut.

Form: 10P/2-33

Juan Bermudez^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lily Pinchin| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 105

18/1

Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat and landed a brace of 18.7f novice events for Dan Skelton at Stratford last June. However, no impact in handicaps since, including on two starts for current yard. Drops into a 0-100 for the first time but needs to show more spark than he has been.

Form: 17P0P8

Tommie Gun⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 103

9/2

Found 2 miles too sharp when fourth at Chepstow in December and was well-backed on subsequent start, only to disappoint (pulled-up, although was struck into). Again ran poorly when pulled-up at Warwick in February. He's fairly handicapped if he can recapture his form following a break.

Form: F834PP

Lune De La Mer^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102| BF| D

4/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner in spring 2023 and recaptured his form following a lengthy absence when third in a handicap at Doncaster (19.4f), looking awkward despite headgear. Let down by his jumping rather than lack of stamina when beaten favourite last time. Capable but comes with risks attached.

Form: 1/1-7P34

Gwennie May Star^p1⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 101

7/1

Improved at the second time of asking in handicaps when seeing off 10 rivals at Newcastle (17f, good to soft) in January but struggled from 8 lb higher over a longer trip subsequently. Returns from break fitted with cheekpieces. Lightly-raced and may be worth another chance.

Form: P85015

Eagles Gold³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 94

11/2

Runs in novice/maiden company suggested he was being brought along with handicaps in mind but is yet to make an impact, finishing a well-held fifth in a Catterick handicap (19.3f) last time. May need more respite from the handicapper.

Form: 5-54955

Razzo Italiano^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 87

16/1

Back-to-back hurdles winner in September but hasn't threatened in three hurdles starts since, latest when fifth of 6 in a selling hurdle at Stratford (18.7f) 2 weeks ago. Has a bit to find.

Form: 511785

Forecasts

Lune De La Mer (4/1), Don Rafael (4/1), Tommie Gun (9/2), Eagles Gold (11/2), Gwennie May Star (7/1), Camarrate (12/1), Razzo Italiano (16/1), Tchoupinminzac (16/1), Juan Bermudez (18/1), Grey Skies (20/1)

Plenty of these come with risks attached and it may pay to side with TOMMIE GUN who was well backed to land a handicap when disappointing earlier in the season and is fairly treated if he can recapture his form following a break. The lightly-raced Gwennie May Star deserves another chance in first-time cheekpieces having ran poorly last time, while Don Rafael looks fairly solid and may be able to pick up the pieces if a few underperform.