Racecards
16:00 Bangor-on-Dee
Heathcotes Outside Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £9,500 added
- Form 2146-F0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Benson
led to 6th, weakened approaching next
- Form 23/7-27F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
in rear, headway approaching 8th, led approaching last, soon clear
- Form 40-0000
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey David England
chased leaders, led 6th, headed approaching last, soon weakened
- Form 33-U53P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, no chance with winner
Spare Me
26- Form 48-4331
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Tjade Collier
chased leader, weakened 3 out
- Form 142-284
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
in touch, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
- Form 0/1P-73P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up, ridden after 6th, never dangerous
Raffles (FR)
85- Form 2113-PF
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
chased leaders, weakened from 6th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 290063
- Age 11
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Michael Murphy
towards rear, ridden after 6th, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Alternator is given our vote with Spare Me and Speed Venture chief amongst the dangers. The selection has a little to prove and may ideally prefer further but he didn't fare too badly in a decent novice hurdle at Ascot last time when well backed. Prior to that, he'd shown form in bumpers and got to within a length of Gone To Lunch at Uttoxeter in October so his chance is there for all to see. Spare Me is the in-form horse but he would also be better served by a stiffer test. There should be more to come from him but a 12lb rise for winning a bad race looks a little excessive. Speed Venture has won three times here and is back down to a winning mark as well as having a capable conditional on board. He ran a better race last time and it would be folly to leave him out of the equation. Coq Hardi showed a little more last time but that form hasn't worked out at all well so, for the winner, we'll come back to Alternator.
Formwatch
Vicario 14-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 5th, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Naiad du Misselot (10-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Coq Hardi (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden when fell in race won by Pamak D'airy (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Supsonic 100-1 (10-7) Led until 8th, gradually weakened from 3 out, 16th of 18, 47l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Red Scally 12-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, hit 7th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Overserved (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Spare Me 7-4fav (11-7) Close up, led 6th, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Tisfreetdream (11-8) by 5l, 6 ran.
Alternator (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway 8th, led soon after 3 out, headed before next, soon outpaced, 4th of 15, 7l behind Earth Crystal (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Go West (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kornati Kid (11-9) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Raffles (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off when fell 2 out in race won by Almaydan (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Speed Venture 3-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, hit and reminders 5th, soon lost place, ridden approaching next, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Glad Big (11-6) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.