UPBEAT reports from Bangor-on-Dee proved justified when the course passed an inspection on Wednesday after parts of the course were flooded earlier in the month.
Clerk of the course Ed Gretton predicts the going will be heavy on the chase course and soft, heavy in places on the hurdles course so horses who appreciate these conditions will come into their own at the meeting tomorrow afternoon.
The principal race on the card is the £15,500 betdirectuk.com Handicap Hurdle run over a trip of three miles.
Rowley Hill, trained by Alan King, steps up in class following a narrow victory at Chepstow earlier this month on ground that was testing.
Magnifico, who also holds an entry, finished a neck behind the Rowley Hill when receiving five pounds in weight.
Desperate Dex will relish the conditions and has also demonstrated that he stays when successful over this trip in novice company at Uttoxeter last month and has a considerable weight advantage.
The King horse is selected to record a second successive win here.
Racing gets under way at 12.50pm with the £100 Bonus@betdirectuk.com Maiden Hurdle run over three miles. Noeud Vert, who has been a consistent type, finishing in third place on heavy ground over this distance at Chepstow three weeks ago, has the potential to win here and Natumba should run into a place.
With 34 entries at the five-day stage, the Bet Now @ betdirectuk.com Handicap Hurdle covering two miles and one furlong is difficult to predict.
Tiltili was disappointing when sent off favourite at Southwell a fortnight ago and Norton Sapphire looks to be high enough in the handicap at present.
Asaateel makes a long trip up from Brighton and may represent value to improve on his third place over a similar trip at Southwell last time out with a drop in class.
Dandygrey Russett put in a creditable performance over the course and distance last month and holds a five-day entry in the two miles one furlong New betdirectcasino.com Mares' Only Maiden Hurdle when only beaten by the useful Blythe Knight. High Life, just beaten in a Mares Only bumper last time out, looks the danger.
Trainer Sue Smith does well with her horses at Bangor-on-Dee and she may have a rewarding trip from Yorkshire with Bougoure.
The seven-year-old was beaten by only one length at Sedgefield last month and the experience may have put him spot on for a win in the extended two-and-a-half-mile New betdirectpoker.com Beginners' Chase.
Alan Bailey is better known as a flat trainer but brought Quibble back after a long lay off to finish a close up second at Catterick last month, proving he will stay the extended three-mile trip of the Betdirect 0800 211222 Novices' Handicap Chase.
Well in at the weights, the good-looking chestnut by Lammtarra could round off the meeting with a locally trained success.
