It’s a very long time since I visited Bangor-on-Dee racecourse in Wales. It is not exactly regarded as a likely starting point for Cheltenham festival winners but there are some seriously good horses on show on Wednesday.
Perhaps the one most likely to be heading to Cheltenham in March is Alan King’s Chatez who is yet to jump a hurdle in public. This horse has always been a bit better than the average flat performer to emerge from King’s stables and he has been rubbing his hands for some time about his hurdling prospects. Even when winning the valuable Haydock Silver Bowl in the summer there was never any doubt that he would be hurdling this winter. He meets another useful flat performer in Top Of The Glas but there will be some long faces if he is beaten.
King could also be on the mark earlier in the day with Dundee who makes his chasing bow in the 1.30. He managed to win over hurdles on his last start, just getting the better of Askamore Darsi who re-opposes on marginally better terms. There should not be much between them but Dundee has always looked more of a chaser. Premier Portrait edged out Withoutdefavourite last time but that may have been a modest contest while the free-running Vujiyama unseated his rider at Ffos Las. He is feared most on this tighter track.
Across The Bay reappears for the first time since being carried across the course in the Grand National in April. He contests the Anne Duchess Of Westminster Memorial Handicap Chase at 2.00 along with better-fancied stable companion Operating. I am going to take a chance on the in-form Bob Ford despite a 12lbs rise in the weights. He won so easily at Chepstow that odds of around 5-1 are too tempting to ignore.
It was good to see Desert Recluse return to his best on his hurdling debut for Henry Oliver. The former Queen Mother’s Cup winner looks a natural despite not having previously jumped a hurdle in public at the age of seven. However, he must concede 7lbs to the useful bumper winner Knight Bachelor, trained by Warren Greatrex. His runners are jumping out of their skins at present so I’ll have to side with the four-year-old.
Finally, Clondaw Kaempfer won a top class handicap hurdle at Aintree in the spring and now tries to give weight all round on his seasonal debut. The favourite is Nicky Henderson’s Kentucky Hyden who was runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle. I am yet to be convinced that the Triumph was anything special this year and I think the top weight is the value here at 7-1.
Dundee 1.30 @6-1 Bet365
Bob Ford 2.00 @5-1 Paddy Power
Knight Bachelor 2.30 @2-1 Betfair
Clondaw Kaempfer 3.00 @7-1 Ladbrokes
Chatez 3.30 @5-6 Betfair
