December 02 / 13.11 Bangor-on-Dee

13.11

Soft

Richard Pennell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6680.46
  • 2m 0f 145y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Richard Pennell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 423-22 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Front-running veteran who has not won since December 2020 but he's finished runner-up in three of his last four starts including at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) on his return two weeks ago; remains well treated on old form and he should go well again back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

23rd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

11:45 Haydock

Chti Balko

12st 2lb

J: Abbie McCain

T: Donald McCain

Ended a losing run of three years when making all for a wide-margin win at Bangor this month (2m, soft); back up 6lb but he was runnning in stronger races than this not so long ago and is a triple course winner; no easy lead this time but bold bid likely.

3/1

1st

2

2nd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:11 Bangor-on-Dee

Chti Balko

12st 1lb

J: Abbie McCain

T: Donald McCain

Front-running veteran who has not won since December 2020 but he's finished runner-up in three of his last four starts including at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) on his return two weeks ago; remains well treated on old form and he should go well again back in trip.

8/1

2nd

2

16th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

15:40 Sedgefield

Chti Balko

12st 0lb

J: Abbie McCain

T: Donald McCain

prominent, led 2nd, joined 2 out, soon headed, ridden approaching last, kept on run-in

5/1

Form: 355-91 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Has a patchy profile but this triple chase winner cashed in on his lower hurdles mark when justifying favouritism at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) two weeks ago; 6lb higher here but that was a comfortable success and he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Heritier

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

His last win was over C&D in late 2024 but 0-11 in the meantime and hasn't delivered an effort of note this campaign.

25/1

7th

5

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Heritier

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

His last win was here in late 2024 off a 12lb higher mark; however, 0-10 in the meantime and hasn't delivered an effort of note this campaign.

20/1

4th

3

30th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 5

16:23 Catterick

Heritier

11st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Lizzie Quinlan

He's dropped to a mark 9lb lower than when winning at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) in December 2024 but he's hard to fancy on this season's evidence.

20/1

Form: 5P31/9 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 6yo; won a Huntingdon novice (2m, good) for Gary Moore in April 2022 but he was on the sidelines for 19 months before his heavy defeat in Ayr handicap (2m, good to soft) on his recent comeback; had wind surgery since but he has something to prove on his second run for Olly Murphy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

31st Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 113y

Class 4

13:50 Leicester

Transatlantic

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

in touch with leaders, going best when prominent 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in

7/1

4th

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

Transatlantic

11st 12lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Won a Huntingdon novice (2m, good) for Gary Moore in April 2022; returned last month from a mammoth absence and ran a lot better at Bangor next time following wind surgery, although he was well beaten and didn't jump too well; may prefer drier ground.

6/1

Form: 116191 CD

Last run: 5 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Four-time course winner who has won five of his ten starts for current yard, with three gained over hurdles and two over fences; on same mark as for his clearcut chase win at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) on Monday and he's a big player again back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

15:55 Newton Abbot

Feel The Pinch

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

No longer the force of old but returned from break with C&D (good) win off much reduced mark in June and subsequently ran well over fences here; still well handicapped over hurdles and seems versatile regarding ground; no surprise if he features.

6/1

2nd

4

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Feel The Pinch

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Capitalised on a reduced mark over hurdles here (2m1f, good) ten days ago when back from a break; he wasn't running well over fences towards the end of last year but he's a three-time chase winner who is able to run off the same mark as for that recent hurdle win, so is entitled to respect.

9/4

1st

1

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:57 Newton Abbot

Feel The Pinch

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Nine-time winner over jumps, including over C&D last July; out of form over hurdles and fences afterwards but the booking of James King catches the eye and, having dropped to a career-low mark, this 11yo could be a player back from a break.

10/1

Form: 67421- D

Last run: 232 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
5yo who got off the mark over hurdles when landing a Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, heavy) in April; this looks competitive on his handicap hurdle debut but he's a useful Flat performer and has been generally progressive in this sphere; respected on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Kempton

Thunderclap

12st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

Only 4lb higher than when a convincing winner of this race last year (on soft) and ran as though his run 15 days ago would bring him on; couldn't discount.

8/1

5th

1

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Kempton

Thunderclap

12st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

Only 4lb higher than when a convincing winner of this race last year (on soft) and ran as though his run 15 days ago would bring him on; couldn't discount.

8/1

6th

3

23rd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

13:55 Huntingdon

Thunderclap

11st 9lb

J: David Bass

T: Hughie Morrison

towards rear

10/1

Form: /27P4-

Last run: 221 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner (1m4f, heavy), who was a promising fourth in a Ffos Las novice (2m, good to soft) in the third of his three hurdle runs last season; had wind surgery since and he needs watching in the market on his handicap/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Icarat

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent behind clear leaders, weakened after 5th, tailed off

12/1

9th

7

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Icarat

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bumper winner in France but he's generally struggled in Britain and has failed to complete in chase handicaps in his last two runs; dropped another 4lb but he needs a transformation back over hurdles.

12/1

4

21st Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 5

16:40 Ludlow

Icarat

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bumper winner in France; has far-from-solid claims on British form but he's in good hands and unexposed over fences; admittedly well held when unseating rider two out at Ffos Las (2m; 11-2 for chase debut) most recently.

7/1

Form: 2-P303

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won Fontwell maiden (2m1f, good to soft) for Milton Harris last December but he has a mixed record since; wasn't beaten far when third of five at Uttoxeter two weeks ago but he's now 1-11 over hurdles and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

2nd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:11 Bangor-on-Dee

Polyphonic

11st 6lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won Fontwell maiden (2m1f, good to soft) for Milton Harris last December but he has a mixed record since; wasn't beaten far when third of five at Uttoxeter two weeks ago but he's now 1-11 over hurdles and others are more convincing.

14/1

Non-runners

John Betjeman, Risk D'Argent

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.50
Straight Forecast £44.29
Tricast £1192.50
Trifecta £667.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Feel The Pinch

RP RATINGS:

Heritier

Telegraph:

Thunderclap

The Guardian:

Risk D'Argent

The Times:

Transatlantic

The Star:

Chti Balko

TOPSPEED:

Heritier

Daily Record:

Heritier

Daily Mirror:

Thunderclap

The Sun:

Risk D'Argent

POSTDATA:

Feel The Pinch

Daily Mail:

Feel The Pinch

D Express:

Feel The Pinch