Friday Racing Tips: Buck’s to bounce back at Bangor

With Sandown having fallen foul of the weather, there is only one jumps meeting taking place, as Bangor-on-Dee hosts a seven-race card that gets under way at 13:25.

My horse racing tips for the day includes a couple from the Welsh venue - plus an all-weather fancy from Dundalk in Ireland.

13:55 Bangor - Wal Buck's @ 5/1

WAL BUCK'S looks well suited by this test for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, with conditions very much in his favour.

The seven-year-old showed his stamina and liking for testing ground last season when landing a novice handicap chase at Haydock over 3m1f on soft, travelling strongly and pulling well clear late on in a performance that marked him down as a proper staying type.

He’s continued to run with credit since, including a solid effort over an extended 3m6f at Newcastle in November. While he finished only fourth there, he was beaten less than five lengths in a stronger race than this, and that day arguably didn’t place quite enough emphasis on stamina, with the ground riding quicker than ideal.

More recently, he shaped well when second at Ayr over 3m on soft ground, once again sticking to the task well. This contest looks up his street and he can return to winning ways.

16:05 Bangor - He's Bresilian @ 13/8

HE'S BRESILIAN looks a progressive type for Jedd O’Keeffe and arrives with his confidence clearly on the up. 

The six-year-old got off the mark over hurdles on his penultimate start at Newcastle, travelling strongly throughout before asserting to win with something in hand, a performance that suggested there was more to come.

He followed that up with a solid effort at Ayr last time, finishing second in a competitive handicap off a mark of 108. He was from disgraced, only giving best late on after being in contention for much of the race, and he pulled clear of the rest, underlining the strength of the run.

The handicapper has nudged him up just 2lb for that effort, which looks fair given how well he shaped. This slightly sharper test should suit his travelling style and he looks capable of taking another step forward.