Racecards
16:20 Bangor-on-Dee
Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,800 added
- Winner: £3,119
- 2nd: £916
- 3rd: £458
- 4th: £229
- Form U-02P45
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Thomas Garner
held up in 4th, went 2nd 4 out, driven after next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner from next, lost 2nd post
- Form 24-42P2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
disputed lead to 5th, chased leaders, driven and outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd post, no chance with winner
- Form 55-5F62
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up 5th and last, in touch when fell 7th
- Form 534
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
made most, hung right and reminders on bend after 5th, headed 4 out, weakened from next
- Form 5-41111
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Jonathan England
tracked leading pair, joined leader after 5th, led 4 out, drew readily clear from 2 out, comfortably
In depth
Verdict
COVERHOLDER is a winner without a penalty and difficult to oppose. He landed his fourth straight victory when successful in a conditionals' race at Wetherby last week and can go in again. Koultas King and Ajman can both figure on the back of recent placed efforts with the former preferred over today's trip while top weight Turbo Du Ranch may also get involved after finishing fourth at Warwick on his latest start. All three of the above will still do well to get the better of the selection, however, while Welsh Bard has been well beaten in a couple of maiden hurdles and is even harder to fancy.
Formwatch
Turbo Du Ranch (FR) 11-1 (11-7) In rear, headway before 2 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 9l behind Dream Again Boys (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy.
Koultas King (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Led until 6th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, every chance flat, not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Winds And Waves (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Ajman (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 6th, chased winner 2 out, switched right approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Drussell (10-13) at Ludlow 2m Am hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Welsh Bard (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Chased leader, pushed along 5th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 9, 22l behind Deepsand (10-7) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Coverholder (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Always prominent, not fluent 5th, led before 3 out, clear last, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft beating Solway Dandy (11-3) by 8l, 16 ran.