14:33 Bangor-on-Dee

Saturday 25 March 2023

All13:2313:5814:3315:0815:4316:1816:53

Stella Artois Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 4m 39.97s

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Selected odds by:

Heritier^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 109| BF| D

13/2

Doubled tally over fences at Kelso in October before scoring again at Market Rasen the following month. Rare below-par effort at Plumpton (17f, good) last month but every chance he will bounce back with the hood left off here.

Form: 411935

Risk D'Argent⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: A Ralph| OR: 109

7/2

Fair winning hurdler. Not in the same for over fences last twice, although his latter effort at Uttoxeter was better than the first attempt.

Form: 32-3594

Oscars Leader^v²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J Candlish| OR: 108| CD

13/2

Doubled his chase tally at Newcastle 13 months ago but yet to fire this season. Down in the weights as a result but needs to show more before becoming of interest.

Form: 13-3P64

Cenotice^b,t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108| CD

20/1

Won 3 times following a lengthy absence last season (including over C&D) but below that level this season, never managing to get out of last at Leicester (15.9f, good) last month. Hopes pinned on a return to this venue.

Form: 71-4403

Our Marty⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

9/1

Made winning start over hurdles at Perth (2m) in September but disappointing on all 3 starts since, the switch to a handicap offering no encouragement at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 7 weeks ago.

Form: 36-1870

Imac Wood^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 105

12/1

Dual chase winner in France early last year. First sign of encouragement over hurdles for new yard when fourth in course handicap last month but unable to build on that on less testing ground than previously at Newbury since.

Form: 61-P845

Blueberry Wine^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 104| D

7/1

Fair dual winner over fences last season and entitled to have needed his return effort after 10 months off at Leicester (15.9f, good to firm) last month. Not out of things.

Form: 13313-5

Twotwothree²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 103| CD

15/2

Three-time winner over fences for Oliver Greenall. Low-key return/yard debut effort at Southwell in November but ran one of better races after a wind op from a declining mark when runner-up at Doncaster (19.1f, good) just over 3 weeks ago. Can feature.

Form: 243-P42

Higgs^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 93| D

8/1

Dual hurdles winner back in 2018 who proved expensive to follow for Dr Richard Newland. Sold for just £2,500 and yet to make much impact for this yard.

Form: 52-6442

Muse Of Fire^p1,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 80

9/1

On debut for current yard, got back on track after a year off when runner-up at Warwick on New Year's Eve. Filled the same position at Catterick next time but failed to get home over 20f at former course last time, taking a tired late fall. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 76P-22F

Forecasts

Risk D'Argent (7/2), Oscars Leader (13/2), Heritier (13/2), Blueberry Wine (7/1), Twotwothree (15/2), Higgs (8/1), Our Marty (9/1), Muse Of Fire (9/1), Imac Wood (12/1), Cenotice (20/1)

Provided he can leave a rare below-par effort behind, HERITIER is fancied to regain the winning thread with the usual headgear discarded and continue his fledgling yard's fine season. Twotwothree ran one of his better races after a breathing operation when runner-up at Doncaster earlier this month so he may emerge as the main danger, with Blueberry Wine rounding off the shortlist.