Hi all,
There’s a decent card at Bangor this afternoon. The highlights being the Listed Mares’ Novices’ Chase (1:00) and three-mile handicap chase (1:30) which has attracted a good field of fourteen staying handicap chasers. The Tuesday action is completed by cards at Exeter, Dundalk and Kempton.
I have selections from Bangor and Kempton.
Bangor
1:30 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 3m
My favourite type of a race a staying handicap chase and it’s an intriguing one. Plenty of these are making their seasonal returns and in Belami Des Pictons case back from 641-day layoff. The 10-year-old has only had four runs since November 2017 so its hard to know what ability remains but trainer Venetia Williams has saddled the winner of this three times since 2012.
On good to soft ground, you would think the likes of hte well fancied Snow Leopardess and Sam’s Adventure would need a stronger stamina test than 3m.
Bobo Mac goes well fresh but is another who may prefer softer ground than he’s going to get here.
Captain Tommy was a 3 ¾ length 2nd of 13 in this race 12 months ago. He’s since switched yards and won on his stable debut Uttoxeter (3m) in May, off 3lb lower. Found 2m 5 ½ f at Market Rasen to short on his return from a 5-month absence last month. This is more his trip and he won’t mind the ground.
Sam’s Adventure’ stablemate Windsor Avenue was a decent novice chaser two seasons back. The 9-year-old failed to score last season but his 2 ½ 2nd to Imperial Aura in last season’s Colin Parker at Carlisle and 4 ¼ lengths 3rd of 8 to Canelo in Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby bring him firmly into the mix. His form figures returning from a 121+day layoff are 1212.
Canelo has the going and distance and his favour and hails form last year’s winning yard. He’s a contender but does have has to give 7lb to Windsor Avenue.
Falco Blitz did well on his first season over fences winning a Southwell novice handicap chase in February and bettering that form when a 4-length 2nd of 8 to Belargus at Sandown in April. Yet to race beyond 2m 4 ½ f but could improve for today’s longer trip.
Beware The Bear is the best handicapped horse in the field. The 11-year-old won a handicap chase (3m 1f) at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival and later that year put in a career best effort when 2 ¼ length 4th of 24 in the Ladbroke Trophy on his return that season. He finished 5th in last year’s Ladbroke Trophy last season on his seasonal reappearance. Three subsequent runs last season were dire but that means he’s dropped down to a good mark. First start for a new yard today and if the stable switch has had the desired effect, then he’s a well handicapped horse.
Verdict: Captain Tommy has solid claims of going one better than last year. Falco Blitz is a contender if he stays 3m. Windsor Avenue is a tentative selection but I wouldn’t put any one off having a saver on the well handicapped Beware The Bear.
1pt win – Windsor Avenue – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Captain Tommy – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
0.5pts each way – Beware The Bear – 20/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
3:00 – Hunter’s Call might be an 11-year-old but he showed last season that he could go well in races like this last season when a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 11 at Aintree last December and a 3 ¾ lengths third of 20 in Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton the following month. A strong traveller he doesn’t find as much off the bridle as seems likely but this first run since wind surgery and trainer Olly Murphy has his horses in good from.
1pt win – Hunter’s Call – 5/1 @ Bet365
Kempton
7:00 – I’m going to take on the front two in the betting Candleford and Noble Masquerade with Coltrane and Here And Now.
Candleford ran well when third on his all-weather debut over C&D last time but is short enough in the betting albeit looks to have a handicap in him off his present mark. Whilst Noble Masquerade has plenty of ability but doesn’t always put it all in.
Coltrane won the Melrose Handicap (1m 6f) last August and shaped like still in good form when 9th of 34 in last season’s Cesarewitch, probably didn’t stay the 2m 2f that day. First start for 396-days and has been gelded but still has potential to resume his progressive ways.
Here And Now hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound and looked laboured on both starts on turf this autumn. However, he did make it 2-4 on the all-weather when running out a 2-length winner at Wolverhampton last October. Respected here if reproducing his Wolverhampton performance.
1pt win – Coltrane – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – Here And Now – 9/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John