12:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Wednesday 29 July 2020

All12:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

tote Placepot - Your First Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 12:33 | Winning time: 4m 1.94s

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Selected odds by:

Blakeney Point²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain JnrWS

1/1

Very useful on the Flat from 12f-16f for Roger Charlton, rated 105 at his peak, and disappointing he couldn't do better on debut for this yard over hurdles at Doncaster last December. Must be better than that, and has chances.

Form: 8-

Chestnut Pete²⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech

15/2

Good effort to finish a close enough fifth in a quality novice hurdle at Cheltenham last October, although form of that a little suspect. Nevertheless, had shown promise previously, so has clear form chances if repeating.

Form: 9/34965-

Down To The Sea^h,t¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: M Bradstock

100/1

Only a modicum of promise shown in four bumper and hurdle starts and nowhere near enough to think he's going to be a threat here.

Form: 5P70-

Empty Quarter¹⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans

5/1

In the frame in last two starts in bumpers, breeding makes him look quite a speedy sort but seems to stay fine. Hard enough task on hurdles debut and others make more appeal.

Form: 422-

Grey Spirit²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| BF

6/1

Useful on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott (best around 1m) but a disappointing short-priced favourite on first start for this yard at Uttoxeter. Ought to know more here and has a chance if putting that run behind him.

Form: 6

Test Valley^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

66/1

Did no more than plug on at one pace for a remote fourth at Southwell last time and has a stiff task here. One for handicaps further down the line.

Form: FPP/4

The Mayne Man¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby

150/1

Well held in all starts at big prices in both bumpers and hurdles and needs this for a handicap mark, where he may be more competitive.

Form: 530-90

Magic Shuffle¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: S Curran

12/1

Well held only start over hurdles but has at least a recent win on the Flat to his name, that coming at Bath (10f) off a mark of 59 earlier in the month. Likely to find others a bit quicker here, though.

Form: 7-

Piano Stairs^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

11/1

Did a bit better at Southwell on latest start when third, but hurdling technique still leaves plenty to be desired. Could improve if he sharpens that up a bit, and yard going better now. Each-way chances.

Form: F-73

Vexed^t1¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| BF

18/1

Hit the frame a few times on the Flat for David Simcock and should make a hurdler for new yard, but is one that's more likely to make an impact in handicaps rather than novice hurdles. Best watched after a break.

Form:

Lyrical Ballad²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland

50/1

Regressive on the Flat and well held on hurdles debut at Stratford, form of which has taken a knock already. Yard in good form but even so, faces a hard task here.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Blakeney Point (1/1), Empty Quarter (5/1), Grey Spirit (6/1), Chestnut Pete (15/2), Piano Stairs (11/1), Magic Shuffle (12/1), Vexed (18/1), Lyrical Ballad (50/1), Test Valley (66/1), Down To The Sea (100/1), The Mayne Man (150/1)

A lot here depends on whether you belive Chestnut Pete's Cheltenham fifth last October, as it is the best bit of jumps form here by some way, and was a vast improvement on anything he had shown before. He had shown promise in a couple of hurdles starts previously, so it could be solid form, but BLAKENEY POINT was very useful on the Flat regardless, and is surely better than his first effort over hurdles at Doncaster would indicate. Grey Spirit and Piano Stairs can fight it out for the minor money.