March 23 / 13.30 Bangor-on-Dee

13.30

Soft

Dragonbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 2m 3f 123y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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Dragonbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4F5P21 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Two wins this season, the latter under James Turner at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month; recent 4lb rise does not look excessive and further progress is not out of the question; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Uncle Bert

11st 6lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

1-6 over fences, the success at Aintree (2m4f) on seasonal debut; seemed a non-stayer in the Welsh National before eventually falling, then ran below form at Cheltenham (2m4f); return to this venue may have a positive effect but he ideally needs assistance from the weather, having gained all wins on soft ground.

20/1

7th

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Uncle Bert

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made much of the running when winning in dominant style at Aintree (2m4f, soft) in December; beaten when falling late on in the Welsh National three weeks later, lack of stamina a possible factor; back to a more suitable trip here but now off a career-high mark and others appeal more.

9/1

25/1

  • Place: £5.40

Form: 21-140 D

Last run: 147 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
In excellent form last spring, winning competitive handicaps at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) and at Haydock (3m, good), but not seen since a disappointing run in the autumn and conditions might be too soft for him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

19:28 Market Rasen

Willaston

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Narrow winner at Carlisle in April (2m3.5f, good; second had won two previous races); has not fared quite as well since, including with a visor tried at Uttoxeter last time; regular cheekpieces back on here but he needs to bounce back now back up in trip (stays 3m well).

10/1

5th

5

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 3

19:30 Uttoxeter

Willaston

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

2m3f success at Carlisle in April (good), his fifth career win; not at his best the last twice and a visor replaces cheekpieces.

14/1

6

14th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

18:28 Hexham

Willaston

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Five-time winner, the latest over 2m3f at Carlisle in April (good); below par when last seen out a month ago and needs to bounce back.

11/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: -04211

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 6yo who started off for Olly Murphy with comfortable wins at Catterick (1m7f, heavy; maiden) and Lingfield (2m, heavy; handicap) this year; upped significantly in grade today but could still have a lot more to offer over this longer trip, and useful 5lb claimer Dylan Johnston is enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

16

11th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Pickanumber

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

Made it three wins from four starts for this yard when scoring at Huntingdon (2m, good) a fortnight ago; he's up in grade today but he was clear with a thriving runner-up last time and could take a 6lb rise in his stride.

20/1

1st

16

11th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Pickanumber

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

Made it three wins from four starts for this yard when scoring at Huntingdon (2m, good) a fortnight ago; he's up in grade today but he was clear with a thriving runner-up last time and could take a 6lb rise in his stride.

20/1

1st

1

25th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

19:15 Huntingdon

Pickanumber

12st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

Effectively a 0-135 Bangor handicap (2m3f, soft) in which his winning streak for Olly Murphy ended last time; likely his prospects depend on whether he can carry his recent improvement back to a sounder surface.

6/1

Form: 6-2F54 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Yet to win this season and not getting any younger but retains most of his ability, and this month's fourth at Newbury (2m, heavy) was perfectly respectable; 2lb lower here and the move back up in trip will suit; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

West To The Bridge

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Grand servant to the yard with 11 hurdles wins; did what he's been doing for years by bouncing back to exploit a falling mark on his favoured testing ground at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in January; most tenacious and impossible to dismiss off 3lb higher.

10/1

1st

1

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

West To The Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Long in the tooth now and not the force of old but was nudged up only 1lb for last month's clear second in refitted cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) and ought to be better suited by this slower ground.

10/1

Form: 5P-109 D

Last run: 112 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced Irish challenger who won Perth maiden (2m4f, good to soft) on latest British raid last May; safely held in two handicaps towards end of last year, though, and has fitness to prove here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:35 Galway

Banjaxed

10st 8lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

Entitled to come on for his recent run at Gowran but so too is Ballybawn Belter who was ahead of him that day; also has others to worry about.

12/1

4th

3

4th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:50 Gowran Park

Banjaxed

11st 7lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

Won a 2m5f beginners' event at Cork last December; produced another solid effort in a rated novice chase at Fairyhouse; has plenty to find with Prince Palace on running at Navan in March; lacks a recent outing.

8/1

7th

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 120y

16:30 Navan

Banjaxed

11st 1lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

in touch with leaders

17/2

OUR TIP

Form: 219-P2 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
5-10 over hurdles, including comfortable win in this race a year ago (good to soft); not much went to plan on seasonal/chase debut in the autumn but, following another break, he lost out only by a neck when back over hurdles at Kelso (2m, soft) last month; ought to be on the premises again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Jungle Jack

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

made all

13/2

2

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Jungle Jack

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Twice finished runner-up at Kelso in the first half of this year (2m, soft/good to soft) and he returned from a break with an encouraging fourth at Bangor (2m3f, good to soft) last month; shaped as though he may improve for that latest run and he represents last year's winning yard; contender.

13/2

4th

4

13th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Jungle Jack

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Has pretty good 5-13 hurdling strike-rate that includes two course wins (2m/2m3f); not seen since his keeping-on second at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in first-time blinkers in May but remains on the same, workable mark; usual cheekpieces back on today.

6/1

Form: 2-44P1 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Slow-ground specialist; no longer the force of old but first-time cheekpieces enabled him to exploit a reduced mark in four-runner chase at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) last month; not sure to be in same mood here but remains well handicapped over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

12:14 Wetherby

Cheddleton

12st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, disputed lead 7th, led 10th

14/1

1

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

12:14 Wetherby

Cheddleton

12st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, disputed lead 7th, led 10th

14/1

7th

5

13th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Cheddleton

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Returned to form and won four-runner chase in first-time cheekpieces in February but was pulled up on consecutive outings in the spring (hurdle/chase) and has done all his winning on soft/heavy ground; others preferred.

16/1

Form: 54-423 C

Last run: 119 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Not firing on all cylinders over fences this season and now reverts to hurdling for first time since March 2022; given very good chance by the handicapper and has conditions to suit but needs 119-day break to have done him good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:10 Uttoxeter

Llandinabo Lad

11st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

led, raced in second when headed after 3rd, lost second 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened approaching last

7/1

7

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

13:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Llandinabo Lad

10st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

Not firing on all cylinders over fences this season and now reverts to hurdling for first time since March 2022; given very good chance by the handicapper and has conditions to suit but needs 119-day break to have done him good.

10/1

3rd

3

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

12:20 Ascot

Llandinabo Lad

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Symonds

jumped slightly left throughout, led, pressed leaders when headed 16th, weakened before 2 out

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £56.50
Straight Forecast £57.62
Tricast £245.49
Trifecta £206.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pickanumber

TOPSPEED:

Uncle Bert

THE NORTH:

Jungle Jack

The Guardian:

West To The Bridge

RP RATINGS:

Pickanumber

POSTDATA:

Pickanumber

Telegraph:

Pickanumber

Daily Mirror:

Pickanumber

The Star:

Pickanumber

WEST COUNTRY:

Uncle Bert

The Times:

Uncle Bert

Daily Record:

Uncle Bert

Daily Mail:

Jungle Jack

D Express:

Jungle Jack

The Sun:

Jungle Jack