Racecards
14:55 Bangor-on-Dee
Gordon Horner 70th Birthday Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, led approaching 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
- Form 001335
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Rothwell
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, clear last, comfortably
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, soon eased
- Form 500210
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer A Berry
- Jockey N Mulholland
towards rear, reminders 3rd, hit next, tailed off 6th
- Form 04/4-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer N M Babbage
- Jockey Dave Crosse
always behind, tailed off 6th
- Form 0/4225-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey G Lee
keen, tracked leaders, led 5th, headed approaching 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 60
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey O McPhail
led, headed and hit 5th, mistake next, soon weakened
Times Past (IRE)
154- Form 11/4P2-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer J Unett
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
always behind, tailed off 6th
In depth
Verdict
An interesting novice event and one in which Fairwood Present might get the better of Idole First and Bosham Mill. The selection, having his first run in Britain, has already won four races on the Flat, in bumpers and over hurdles in Ireland. Accordingly, he will not lack for experience and that swings the balance of preference in his favour. Idole First won four times on the Flat in his native France and, despite not jumping well on his hurdling debut, still managed to win from two more-experienced rivals. He is entitled to improve again. Bosham Mill became unreliable on the Flat but won at the first time of asking over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill at Chepstow. However, the blinkers - and Tony McCoy - are on now after he disappointed last time. Lambhill Stakes looks best of the rest but, in our view, Fairwood Present, with Richard Johnson booked, looks best overall.