The ground at Bangor-on-Dee was described as good on Monday
morning but heavy rain was forecast ahead of today's card and the assumption is
that conditions will deteriorate markedly ahead of today's none-race card.
The card is sponsored by the Donald McCain yard and he has
any number of chances on the card including with Get In Robin in the mares'
hurdle. I feel Winfola (12.30) would have scored at Musselburgh back in January
had she not come down at the last and she has had a recent pipe-opener on the
level. The mare has winning jumpers in her pedigree, but she is overlooked
given the form of the Phil Kirby stable who have been badly out of sorts of
late.
The nod goes to the Skeltons Misstree Song (12.30) a winning
pointer over two miles and shaped with promise in her bumpers including when
runner up on heavy ground at Hereford back in December. The stable had a double
at Uttoxeter at the weekend after a quiet period by their own lofty standards.
One horse who will not be inconvenienced by the forecast rain
is Bhutan (1.35) in the handicap hurdle over a trip just shy of 2m 4f. Jonjo
O'Neill's seven-year-old gets three miles and his stamina will be an asset if
the ground, as expected, turns soft. Chirico Vallis – in the same ownership as
the selection – looks sure to guarantee a decent test and Bhutan gets the each
way vote at 13/2 with William Hill who are paying 4 places on the contest.
Another O'Neill runner with more to offer is Joly Maker
(2.35) who was not knocked about on his reappearance when beaten 16L at
Southwell over the minimum distance. Trainer and jockey were asked to explain
the running and riding of the 6-y-old who has won on soft ground. The jockey
suggested that he may need a step up in distance and he gets that opportunity
this afternoon. He is 3lbs lower than when scoring over fences back in October.
Vocaliser (3.05) has his first start for Ollie Murphy, and
he is extremely well treated on his best form. All his wins have been gained
going right-handed over the minimum trip, but he has bits of form over today's
additional three furlongs and Murphy has shown he can improve horses from other
stables. The booking of Richard Johnson would suggest this is not just a
sighter for his new yard.
Iconic Hero (3.35) was no match for the progressive Arthur's
Sixpence at Fontwell last week but that rival is improving at a rate of knots
and I feel today's drop back in trip will suit. The Skelton novice failed to
score in point-to-points in his native Ireland but does have plenty of valuable
chasing experience and his current mark looks workable as does the prospect of
soft ground.
At Catterick Snookered (1.55) is taken to follow up last
week's success in an amateur riders' event over a slightly shorter trip for
Brian Ellison. The selection has won over 2m 4f over timber so today's step up
to 1m 6f is considered a plus. The 6-y-old will, arguably, need a career best
to defy a mark in the 70s but I think he is up to it. The gelding is 3/1 with
William Hill.
Deft (2.55) steps up in trip on her handicap debut and was
doing all her best work late on when fourth in a 10f Newbury maiden last time.
The filly is the half-sister to the Oaks winner Talent and is bred to be
considerably better than her opening mark of 72.
