June 06 / 15.30 Bangor-on-Dee

15.30

Good

Going Is Good Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 0f 145y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Going Is Good Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 4629-

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Lowly rated on the Flat nowadays; belied 80-1 odds when second in Kelso novice hurdle (2m, soft) in February but was swallowed up after racing too freely in the lead in Perth handicap (2m, good to soft) in April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(6)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:42 Ayr

Blazer Two

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual fast-ground 1m4f Leicester scorer in 2022-23, but longer still since he last showed sufficient on any of his occasional returns to shorter; okay last-time hurdles effort, at least.

16/1

2

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Blazer Two

11st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Lowly rated on the Flat nowadays; belied 80-1 odds when second in Kelso novice hurdle (2m, soft) in February but was swallowed up after racing too freely in the lead in Perth handicap (2m, good to soft) in April.

16/1

9th

4

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

17:36 Perth

Blazer Two

11st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

took keen hold, raced wide early, midfield, prominent 2nd

12/1

Form: 7566-4

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Only fourth of six on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good; first-time cheekpieces) three weeks ago but most of the flights were omitted in that unsatisfactory race and he remains unexposed; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:45 Uttoxeter

Portcammon

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

0-10 over hurdles and continues to drop in the weights; doesn't look ready to take advantage.

8/1

9th

5

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:58 Worcester

Portcammon

11st 6lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Unable to land a telling blow when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last month and now 0-8 over hurdles but has shown some significant promise and may benefit from today's step up in trip; a possible.

10/1

Form: 2944-2

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Much better known as a chaser and has 0-5 strike-rate over hurdles but kept on well for close second at Kelso (2m2f, good) 12 day ago and has obvious claims if in similar form here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

14:15 Exeter

Guillaume

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Only won over fences and he made it 0-10 over hurdles when beaten 12l at Kelso a month ago; however, was running fairly well in this discipline before that and certainly has each-way claims.

4/1

5th

8

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

17:30 Kelso

Guillaume

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Chase winner who is 0-9 over hurdles but he went close over C&D in May and has been placed at Bangor (2m) and Stratford (2m2f) in his last three starts; usually races prominently and has each-way claims again back up in trip.

4/1

3rd

7

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Guillaume

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Battled on well for second over C&D before a heavier defeat at Stratford, where again runner-up but beaten 11l; only 1-20 overall and vulnerable to horses on handier marks but one of the more solid contenders nonetheless.

3/1

Form: 5753-

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on the Flat for David O'Meara in 2024 (two wins) but last season's hurdling form for Donald McCain was underwhelming; ran better than eventual 13l defeat suggests when third of five on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April but has been well beaten on the Flat since; improvement required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(6)

16th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Miaswell

11st 2lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Won twice over a mile on soft ground at Haydock for David O'Meara; placed on one of his five starts over hurdles for present yard but well beaten at Chester on latest Flat start; hard to fancy.

20/1

5

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Miaswell

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Fairly useful on the Flat for David O'Meara in 2024 (two wins) but last season's hurdling form for Donald McCain was underwhelming; ran better than eventual 13l defeat suggests when third of five on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April but has been well beaten on the Flat since; improvement required.

7/1

Form: 8732-5 D BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
In fairly good form over fences this spring and now 3lb lower than when going close in C&D (good) hurdle race in September; cheekpieces didn't appear to help much when used once last year but they're given another whirl today; big player if all goes to plan.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Tropical Talent

10st 8lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

In fairly good form over fences this spring and now 3lb lower than when going close in C&D (good) hurdle race in September; cheekpieces didn't appear to help much when used once last year but they're given another whirl today; big player if all goes to plan.

5/2

5th

6

6th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:48 Worcester

Tropical Talent

10st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won off a similar mark over fences last May and ran creditably when favourite at Hereford most recently; more exposed than some of these rivals but has solid claims.

11/4

5th

6

6th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:48 Worcester

Tropical Talent

10st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won off a similar mark over fences last May and ran creditably when favourite at Hereford most recently; more exposed than some of these rivals but has solid claims.

11/4

Form: 666-

Last run: 159 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing more than glimmers of promise in her three qualifying races towards the end of last year but it won't be a surprise if she gets much more competitive in handicaps; watch the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Blossom Tea

10st 3lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Showed nothing more than glimmers of promise in her three qualifying races towards the end of last year but it won't be a surprise if she gets much more competitive in handicaps; watch the betting.

14/1

Form: 9/554- BF

Last run: 131 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Shaped well before fading into fifth in two Market Rasen handicaps (both 2m4f, good) last summer and may not have been suited by the soft ground when a disappointing favourite at Sedgefield in January; returns from another break and is 4lb wrong today but still considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:15 Cartmel

Hope Hill

10st 12lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Bits of promise before he won a seven-runner novice contest at Bangor (2m, good) six weeks ago in his fourth handicap, in clearcut style despite interference and being 4lb out of the handicap proper; had wind surgery one week later; up 7lb today but the chief concern is that he was soundly beaten in all five starts on softer than good.

5/2

8

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Hope Hill

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Shaped well before fading into fifth in two Market Rasen handicaps (both 2m4f, good) last summer and may not have been suited by the soft ground when a disappointing favourite at Sedgefield in January; returns from another break and is 4lb wrong today but still considered.

11/2

Non-runners

Regal Cavalier

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.00
Straight Forecast £19.12
Tricast £55.58
Trifecta £77.70

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Guillaume

SPOTLIGHT:

Tropical Talent

The Times:

Miaswell

D Express:

Hope Hill

Telegraph:

Guillaume

The Guardian:

Guillaume

The Sun:

Guillaume

The Star:

Guillaume

Daily Record:

Guillaume

RP RATINGS:

Tropical Talent

POSTDATA:

Tropical Talent

Daily Mail:

Tropical Talent

Daily Mirror:

Tropical Talent