Racecards
13:40 Bangor-on-Dee
Sir John Hanmer Graduation Chase (Class 2)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
Doctor David
201- Form 311252-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey T Messenger
close up, led 3rd, headed and mistake 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 424520-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders in 3rd, outpaced 3 out, kept on, no impression
- Form 4/12332-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led to 3rd, tracked leader, led and hit 2 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra
- Form 42U332
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, led flat, stayed on well
In depth
Verdict
Another small field chase but it has drawn a competitive quartet, and this can again go to Ditcheat with FREE WORLD, while Doctor David can emerge next best. The latter looks very smart judged on his defeat of Kalahari King last season, but he never really went on from there and was over 10 lengths adrift of the selection when the pair finished behind Gauvain in a Grade 2 novices' chase at Sandown in February. Both runners have their preferred conditions and trip, though Caroline Bailey's gelding is more likely to need the run than his Nicholls-trained rival. Moon Over Miami looked like being a top novice two seasons ago, and was good enough to finish sixth in an Arkle. However, he found it tough in his second season last winter, but he was runner-up in the highly competitive Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and merits plenty of respect. Schelm also enjoys cut and despite a sole chase success so far, he has gone well on numerous occasions in defeat and is no forlorn hope, but preference is for Free World.
Formwatch
Doctor David 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, driven next, one pace and no impression when hit last, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Salford City (11-6) at Perth 2m nov stks (2) gd in Apr.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, weakened 4 out, 14th of 17, 37l behind Oh Crick (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Free World (FR) 7-4 (11-12) Raced wide, chased winner throughout, ridden approaching 3 out, held from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Fix The Rib (10-5) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb.
Schelm (GER) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway in 4th after last, ridden into 2nd entering straight, pressed leader final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Fosters Cross (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Oct.