Captain McGinley, Wishing And Hoping, plus Pyrshan among tips for Bangor and Chepstow
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Coral horse racing experts give their Bangor best bets and Chepstow tips for October 25, with World Hurdle winner Thistlecrack making his chasing debut at the latter venue.
Captain McGinley the standout bet at Bangor
Captain McGinley looks worth a wager to provide in-form trainer Rebecca Curtis with another winner in the 2m 7f handicap hurdle on today’s card at Bangor (15:15).
The six-year-old was placed in all four starts in bumpers before shaping with plenty of promise on his hurdling debut when runner-up to Alcala at Worcester.
Although no match of the easy 16 length winner, Captain McGinley stuck to the task well and pulled 11 lengths clear of the third home.
It was a solid effort and, with Acala now rated 129 ,it makes the selection look nicely treated off a mark of 105.
Captain McGinely should be more than capable of winning a race of this nature off his current rating, especially judged on his bumper runs, and returns to action with the yard in flying form.
Curtis also has a very healthy overall strike rate of just over 26 per cent at the Welsh venue. With Jonathan Moore in the saddle taking off another 3lb with his claim, this looks a nice opening for Captain McGinley to notch a first career success.
Wishing And Hoping odds attractive on chasing debut
In the 2m 4f novices chase (14:40), Wishing And Hoping odds look decent value to lower the colours of the favourite Value At Risk and make a winning debut over the larger obstacles.
This Alan King trained six-year-old was a smart bumper performer, who won his first two starts over hurdles in the manner of an exciting prospect.
Wishing And Hoping was then clearly amiss when pulled-up on heavy ground in a Grade 2 contest at Warwick last time out n and will appreciate the return to a sounder surface.
The son of Beneficial is also bred to come into his own as a chaser, so whatever he achieved over hurdles was always going to be a bonus.
Wishing And Hoping also has a good record fresh, so an absence of 283 days should not be an issue. He hails from a yard in good form, with King saddling four winners from his last 14 runners.
Bangor best bets
14.10: Keep In Line
14.40: Wishing And Hoping (NB)
15.15: Captain McGinley (NAP)
15.45: Swaledale Lad
16.15: River Of Intrigue
16.45: Bastien
Pyrshan weighted to collect at Chepstow
Trainer Graeme McPherson is enjoying a terrific spell at present and Pyshan can cash-in on what looks a handy mark to bag him another success in the 2m 7f handicap hurdle on today’s card at Chepstow (15:05).
The seven-year-old was placed in both his starts in Irish points and has shown a fair level of form over hurdles without getting his head in front.
After finishing a highly promising fifth to the useful Minella Rocco at Kempton, Pyrshan was far fron disgraced on his handicap debut at Southwell when third off a mark of 120.
This gelding also ran very well two starts back when runner-up at the same venue in a class 3 contest off 111. He is now able to race off just 1lb higher in this less competitive class 4 affair.
It gives Pyrshan major claims from a handicapping perspective in a race lacking any real strength in depth and unlike the vast majority of his rivals he remains relaively lightly-raced and open to further improvement.
All eyes on Thistlecrack
Thistlecrack is long odds-on to make his eagerly awaited debut over the larger obstacles a winning one in the extended 2m 7f novices’ chase (15:35) and impossible to oppose.
Colins Tizzard’s star hurdler was unbeaten in five starts last season, where his victories included a facile success in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and an imperious display in the Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree.
The fact that the eight-year-old is currently 6/1 favourite with Coral for the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite having not yet jumped a fence in public, speaks volumes. Thistlecrack is a most exciting prospect who, barring accidents, should win this with consumate ease.
Keep Up Keira appeals on handicap debut
Keep Up Keira caught the eye last time out and looks decent value to land the 2m 3f handicap hurdle (16:35) now stepped up in trip.
Trained by Neil Mulholland, this mare has only had five starts under rules. There was lots to like about her fifth of 12 to Master Speed over 2m at Kempton when last seen in action back in May.
After racing towards the rear, Keep Up Keira was pushed along and struggling after the fifth flight before staying on strongly to nearly snatch fourth.
It was an effort which suggested the five-year-old could be a potential improver when going down the handicap route and stepped up in trip. If that proves to be the case, then an opening mark of 96 may well be on the lenient side.
The daughter of Scorpion also remains unexposed and hails from a yard that saddled two winners at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting last week, so is clearly in good nick.
Chepstow tips for October 25
13.30: Rolling Dylan
14.00: Highway Storm
14.30: Ice Konig
15.05: Pyrshan (NAP)
15.35: Thistlecrack
16.05: Persian Delight
16.35: Keep Up Keira (NB)
17.10: Ronnie Lawson
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