10/02/17 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Nigel Twiston Davies

3.20 Bangor Wood Yer 9/2

Wood Yer (Jamie Bargary) enjoys the longer trips and made a pleasing effort to be 5th at Wincanton four weeks ago, from a mark of 117. Up to just short of 3m 6f on soft and back to his last winning mark of 114, will put him in with a good chance here and Jamie's 3lb claim may prove valuable.

★★★★☆

3.20 Bangor Brownville 9/1

Brownville steps up in trip but has been running consustently well at trips around 3m. A good run into 4th place at Chepstow last time on similar ground and the same mark as today, reads well and with the step up expected to suit, he too could go close. Willy Twiston-Davies rides.

★★★★☆

3.55 Bangor Ballycash 4/1

Ballycash is another who has run consistently of late and was in contention when coming down at the last at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Still a maiden under rules, he deserves to lose that tag and back to 2m 1f has a good chance to do so today. Willy rides and a good run expected.

★★★★☆

4.25 Bangor Atlantic Grey 9/2

Atlantic Grey has shown promise in his first two bumpers despite finishing mid division, last time fading very late on over 1m 6f in a good looking event at Cheltenham. He needs to find a bit but is showing improvement and the step to 2m1f should be of benefit. Should go well, Willy in the saddle.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

3.10 Kempton Gevrey Chambertin 14/1

Gevrey Chambertin has plenty of ability but the former fixed brush hurdle winner is something of an enigma - he is undeniably fairly treated on his best form but would need to improve on recent efforts to figure in this three mile handicap chase.

★★☆☆☆

3.45 Kempton Heath Hunter 12/1

Heath Hunter is another to have slipped to a fair mark but he too needs to improve on most recent efforts in this competitive 20 runners handicap hurdle

★★☆☆☆

3.55 Bangor Nice Thoughts 16/1

Nice Thoughts goes in the two mile handicap hurdle at Bangor and he has some decent bits and pieces of placed form but has had a few opportunities now - Michael Heard takes 5lbs off his back.

★★☆☆☆

Paul Webber

3.10 Kempton Rhapando 14/1

Goes back to the track where he was unfortunately ‘brought-down’ a month ago and I think the step up to three miles should suit him well.

★★★☆☆

4.50 Kempton The Hiking Viking 22/1

Makes his debut in an obviously competitive bumper but I do hide our excitement at his racecourse debut. “TOMMY” is his stable-name and no horse was ever given a more fitting one, as this horse would be the ‘first over the top’ for you, never glancing left or right despite all danger. He is a trier, learns things after doing them only once and loves his work. He has the same stature and maturity as Time For Rupert at the same stages of their lives. “Rupert” won on his debut at the end of April as a 4.y.o. at Ludlow, but it was a much weaker affair, so if “TOMMY” can finish in the first four, we’ll know we have a fair weapon to go to war with in the future.

★★★★☆