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There’s a short-priced favourite for the Class 2 handicap hurdle on Wednesday’s Bangor card but our betting tips focus on a gelding bidding for his third consecutive win in this event. Read on for our full race preview.
IN SUMMARY: The most interesting runner is the 4yo Messire Des Obeaux, who has raced only twice in Britain, was a very creditable seventh in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham festival on the more recent occasion and contests this race from a 4lb lower mark. However, the bookmakers haven’t taken many chances with him and, at the odds on offer, there is surely some value in FOXCLUB. Tom Symonds’ 8yo has been out of sorts this year but he won this race handsomely in the last two seasons, is back in an attractive handicap mark and his heavy defeat against some very useful rivals on the Flat last month certainly shouldn’t be viewed harshly. Dan Skelton’s unexposed mare Rene’s Girl flopped on her handicap debut in April but remains one to be interested in and is next on the list.
1 Minellaforleisure – Unable to land a significant blow in a valuable contest at Ascot recently but will find this easier and his strong-finishing second in a Listed handicap at Market Rasen (2m, good) two starts ago suggests he could still have some untapped potential over today’s longer trip.
2 Foxcub – Didn’t appear to take to chasing in May and was soundly beaten when making Flat debut in a good-quality conditions race last month, but has won this race by clearcut margins in the last two seasons and defends his crown from a handy mark; needs to be taken very seriously.
3 Tornado In Milan – Game front-runner who won twice over 2m3f on slow ground at Taunton in early 2016 and ended last season with a couple of good runs in defeat over fences; however, will need to return from 218-day absence in peak form to have any chance off current mark.
4 Clondaw Kaempfer – Enjoyed success at the 2014 AIntree festival but been lightly raced and generally very disappointing over the last couple of years; on a dangerous mark if able to stage a revival after latest absence and market support will make him of interest, but others have much less to prove.
5 Messire Des Obeaux – Lightly raced 4yo who finished a very respectable seventh when making his handicap debut in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March (2m, good) and runs off a 4lb lower mark here; could easily be found a penalty kick in a maiden hurdle somewhere but Alan King is evidently keen to aim much higher; major player.
6 Rene’s Girl – Quickly developed into a useful novice hurdler at around this time last year, winning twice over about 2m5f against her own sex; disappointed when tackling Listed company on handicap debut in April but remains unexposed and can be given another chance.
7 Bom Bam Boum – Displayed improvement when runner-up in novice company at Taunton (2m3f, heavy) in December but was soundly beaten on handicap debut in March and again in a maiden in April; similar to Messire Des Obeaux in that he could be found an easier opportunity back in novice company but takes his chance here, but that rival is much more appealing.
myracing Forecast Prices: 10/11 Messire Des Obeaux, 5/1 Rene’s Girl, 6/1 Foxcub, 10/1 Minellaforleisure, Tornado In Milan, Bim Bam Boum, 14/1 Clondaw Kaempfer