Lucky 15 Tips: Big guns are out and about at Bangor on Wednesday

Fast Racing Results

12:30 - In The Age @ 6/4

Never a bad move to start proceedings with a Team Skelton inmate - in this case a five-year-old gelding stepping up to the real stayer's distance of 2m 7f for the first time.

In The Age has run on just three occasions since winning a point (3m) in March 2024. Two bumpers (one win), then a very decent maiden hurdle at Aintree 17 days ago, over 2m 4f.

That was his first start since February and understandably he faded late, ending up some 14.5l off the winner Marsiac. With the benefit of that first spin over hurdles, and hailing from such a powerful yard, it's not hard to see all that promise being translated into a successful outcome in this opener.

Interestingly his sire Saint Des Saints was a National Hunt horse himself, an entire (no unkind cuts administered); and was certainly highly effective at around 2m 4f.

We'll see whether this extra 3f is a godsend or the opposite, but in Team Skelts I trust.

13:30 - Diva Luna @ 15/8

A terrific-looking mares' novice chase now, worth over £20k to the winner.

A small but select field assemble - and my idea of the winner is Ben Pauling's six-year-old Diva Luna. She's making her seasonal reappearance and her chasing debut today, but interestingly retains an early-closing entry in to the Mares' Hurdle at the Festival in March.

She wasn't the best of these over timber but plied her trade at some pretty tasty venues - Aintree, Cheltenham (both twice) and Sandown most notably. Ben's yard is flying right now - 29% strike-rate over the past fortnight - and connections will be very hopeful.

Her effort in the G2 Ryanair Mares' novices at the Festival (beaten 6.5l behind Air Of Entitlement after leading two out) entitles her to the utmost respect, and I'm sure the yard will have her beautifully primed for this.

14:00 - Doctor Ken @ 13/2

Owner Mrs Whateley's famous predominantly blue silks now, and a nine-year-old fairly lightly-raced gelding with four wins from thirteen starts.

This is a good-class 3m chase again worth around £20k to the winner, and our selection Doctor Ken makes his seasonal bow off 134, having won off 133 on his penultimate start for last season, at Kempton.

He scored last November at Aintree reappearing after a break of some eight months and looks to do similar after an absence of 202 days this afternoon. Trainer Olly Murphy has made a fabulous start and he teams up again here with force-of-nature Sean Bowen.

Smashing contest, and at current prices represents a bit of value in my book.

16:00 - Disco Davis @ 11/4

And so to the lucky last, and another representative from the all-conquering Alcester, Warwickshire yard of Dan Skelton. Impossible to exaggerate just how big a player he is in the great scheme of things right now, and having brother Dan in the saddle they've combined to produce some sensational results, often upon the grandest of stages.

They field Disco Davis this afternoon in this 2m 3.5f handicap hurdle, and their French-bred six-year-old had a very satisfactory pipe-opener at Uttoxeter 26 days ago under a 3lb claimer, finishing a close-up fourth (1.75l) after getting squeezed close home.

He's won one maiden hurdle so far to go with an earlier point success and on just his third foray into handicap company can score here for the brothers.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £273 for a £7.50 total stake.

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Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.