17:12 Ffos Las

Thursday 17 April 2025

All16:3717:1217:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Mickey Bowen Racing Coming Soon Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:12 | Winning time: 6m 29.17s

Earth Cry^t²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| BF

12/1

Unbeaten in 2 bumpers and won 3 times over hurdles last year. Did little wrong when runner-up at Worcester (23f, soft) on latest start in September and he's very much of interest now tackling the larger obstacles.

Form: 211412

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Fantastikas^p,t⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117| D

28/1

On a losing sequence and while a reproduction of his Uttoxeter third in December would give him a chance, he has checked out rather tamely both starts since.

Form: 23-P344

Peejaybee²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 116| D

7/2

Successful 3 times over hurdles and notched second win in this sphere when landing a Perth handicap in September. Largely performed well in defeat since but form has nosedived the last twice and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 3242P6

Pedley Wood^t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 112| BF

15/2

Steadily progressive 8-y-o who added to his tally back at 2½m at Wincanton on Boxing Day and enhanced his already impressive strike over fences when following up back there (25f, heavy) in January. Ran a shocker in hat-trick bid at the same course last time but claims here if able to bounce back.

Form: 25-511P

Balkardy^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| C| D

11/1

It's been a struggle since his narrow reappearance success at Stratford in October but was in the process of putting in a good shift when exiting 2 out at Ludlow (23.8f, good to soft) in February. Not disgraced over this C&D since but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: 5377F4

Cap Du Nord^p³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 110| D

6/1

Successful twice in 2024 and while he was out of sorts during the autumn/winter, there were clear signs of a revival with cheekpieces refitted (on again here) when fourth of 7 at Warwick (29.2f, good to soft) last time. Down another 2 lb and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 845PP4

Howaya Now⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 109

5/2

Got off the mark in 5-runner novice hurdle at Exeter (21.6f, heavy) last spring and fair efforts in 2 of his 3 starts switched to handicaps since, most recently coming home fifth of 10 following a wind op at Wincanton. Failed to complete sole previous start in this sphere, which has to be a concern.

Form: 421-465

Phantom Getaway^t,v1⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109| CD

10/1

Winning Irish pointer/hurdler. No show 3 starts over fences last term but has performed well on 2 of his 4 runs in handicap chases this time round, particularly when third at Newbury (3m, good to soft) on penultimate start. Failed to fire next time and more severe headgear now tried.

Form: PP-2P34

House Of Stories^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 107| D

15/2

Point winner who was awarded a Chepstow maiden hurdle in January 2024. Pulled up on return/chase debut at Chepstow in February but went with more encouragement when runner-up in first-time cheekpieces at Hereford (25.2f, good) next time and he's open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 1/21P-P2

Non-Runners

Karuma Grey¹

Weight: 12-2| Age: 7

T: Mrs A M Thorpe J: Shane Fenelon

Stratagem³⁸

Weight: 11-13| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Don Alvaro⁶¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Howaya Now (5/2), Peejaybee (7/2), Cap Du Nord (6/1), House Of Stories (15/2), Pedley Wood (15/2), Phantom Getaway (10/1), Balkardy (11/1), Earth Cry (12/1), Stratagem (12/1), Karuma Grey (16/1), Don Alvaro (16/1), Fantastikas (28/1)

CAP DU NORD isn't getting any younger but there were positives to take from his latest effort at Warwick and, having slipped to a very dangerous mark, he could be the answer to this open-looking contest. Consistent hurdler Earth Cry will be a danger to all if his jumping passes the test on his debut in this sphere, while the lightly-raced House of Stories and Pedley Wood also enter calculations.