Bangor-on-Dee — Tuesday 31st March 2026

Bangor-on-Dee — Tuesday 31st March 2026

A six-race card at Bangor on good ground, and the going is the key thread running through the whole afternoon. Plenty of horses here have form on soft or heavy that may not translate — the ones who've already shown they handle a drier surface move straight to the top of the shortlist. Three races stand out for punters: the Junior Hurdle, the Mares' Novice Hurdle, and the staying handicap. Here's how it looks.

2:15 — Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk EBF Junior "National Hunt" Hurdle (2m½f)

Seven runners, small field, and this is really a three-horse race once you strip it back. Planters Punch (Nico de Boinville, Nicky Henderson) is odds-on for a reason — he won on debut at Hereford on good ground and the form has held up brilliantly since, with the runner-up winning three on the bounce. Henderson's yard is ticking along at 4/20 in the last 14 days, which is workmanlike rather than red-hot, but a horse of this profile in this grade doesn't need the trainer to be flying.

The value angle is Molly's Lad (Jonathan Burke, Fergal O'Brien) at 11/4 with Bet365. His form is rock-solid — third to a horse that went on to run big in the Fred Winter, and his Carlisle defeat came against a winner that remains unexposed and unbeaten. O'Brien is cold at 2/31 in the last fortnight, which is a concern, but the horse's profile is the more important factor here. He handles good ground and has more tactical options than the favourite, who was noted hanging on his debut.

Crack Ops (Toby Wynne) at 4/1 is interesting on ground that suits — his bumper win at Ludlow and placing at the Cheltenham Listed was all on good — but his hurdle debut at Catterick on good to soft produced a weak finish, and you're relying on headgear transforming him. Possible place candidate, not a win selection.

Selection: Molly's Lad — 11/4 (Bet365, Virgin Bet, LiveScore Bet)

3:15 — Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Mares' Novices' Hurdle (2m½f)

The favourite here has a significant question mark attached to her, and that's where the interest lies. Halftheworldaway (Toby Wynne, Greenall/Guerriero) bolted up here last time, but every single one of her career runs has been on soft ground. She's unproven on good and the Spotlight flags that explicitly as a grey area. The price — 6/4 — doesn't compensate you for that uncertainty.

Roses All The Way (Charlie Maggs, Donald McCain) at 2/1 with Bet365 is the more attractive proposition. McCain's yard is ticking over at 3/21 in the last 14 days — functional — and this mare has Listed form in bumpers. Her winning form at Musselburgh came on good to soft, and she's proven she stays 2m4f. Yes, she came up short under a penalty at Ayr, but she's proven at this level and the cheekpieces she wore there may have been a one-off experiment. The step back to a field where she holds clear form credentials makes her the value call.

Highland Haven (Jonathan Burke) at 9/2 is the interesting outsider — her bumper form puts her ahead of Roses All The Way on soft ground, but her two hurdle runs have seen her beaten 6 lengths or so, and good ground is an unknown for her too. Respect at the price but not preferable to Roses All The Way at slightly shorter.

Selection: Roses All The Way — 2/1 (Bet365)

2:45 — Xenon Workplace Handicap Hurdle (2m7f, 9 runners)

Nine runners over 2m7f on good ground, and this is the race of the day for each-way punters. The form of several runners here is soft-ground dependent, which is crucial filtering on today's conditions.

Escort'kheops (Kevin Brogan, Laura Horsfall) at 7/2 is the market leader and Horsfall is genuinely in form at 2/5 in the last 14 days — a remarkable strike rate that demands attention. He won a maiden at Plumpton last time on good to soft and has shown he can be competitive off this sort of mark. The concern is whether the form there represents his ceiling. Still, in-form trainer and a horse who handles varying ground makes him the most solid selection in the race.

The each-way value is Slim Marvel Each-Way (Toby McCain-Mitchell, Rebecca Curtis) at 4/1 with Bet365. Curtis is 2/13 in the last 14 days — not spectacular but showing signs of life — and this mare's Irish form on good ground is the key angle. She stayed 3m in Ireland and has raced on good before. Her near-miss at Ffos Las came on heavy ground, travelling strongly deep into a 3m race, which shows her stamina is not in question. She drops back slightly in trip here, which suits, and at 4/1 in a 9-runner handicap with 3 places paid, the each-way terms are fair.

Coumeenoole (Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton) at 3/1 is worth a mention — he won his point on good ground and stays 3m, which ticks boxes, but Skelton is ice cold at 5/44 and this horse has done nothing in 12 runs under rules to inspire confidence. Leave alone.

Selection: Escort'kheops — 7/2 (Bet365) | Each-Way Value: Slim Marvel — 4/1 (Bet365)

Today's NAP