Donald McCain, the wisest of all Bangor alchemists is usually a man to rely on at his local track. This season, the Dapper Don is 9-54 at 17%, although that strike-rate is down on his five year numbers at over 18%.
Bo Cruz should be a little shorter than 7/42.75 in my opinion as a horse in form, and while Joyeux Machin for Dan Skelton has been in some tough and superior races, he isn't exactly a win machine of late and has to give Bo Cruz a lot of weight.
The selection has progressed upped to 3m, and while he beat an inferior crew at Catterick in January, he sauntered around 3m (his first try at the distance) and jumped extremely well at Wetherby last month to record another easy win (6L).
He was just as good at Wetherby too, reaching an excellent Race IQ lengths gained from jumping figure (if you like that sort of thing) and clearly ridden like a good horse out the back to pick them off.
There's more to come from this rookie chaser off 110, and while Joyeux Machine is rated 22lb higher on official ratings, the Timeform crew have him on 138p, better than Joyeux Machin's 137. Val Dancer has a TF rating of 140 but he hasn't looked the same horse since his Welsh Grand National win.
Back Bo Cruz in the 14:15 at Bangor
This is an old school Saturday double relying on McCain and Sue Smith, and Glen Road was one of my antepost fancies on Tuesday, and I will not be deserting him now.
At 9/25.50 on the Sportsbook as of Friday lunchtime, that represents a fair price considering he will be back at what looks his best trip.
Last time out at Sandown he was beaten just over 2L over 2m4f in soft, and the winner in that novices' chase had the run of the race from the front. A sterner test would have suited Glen Road, although a couple of mistakes didn't help his cause either.
He was a winner over hurdles at Kelso in December from 112, crucially over a little further at the extended 2m6f with a positive ride too. I can see that happening again for Saturday and he looks on a good mark from 116 for this on just his fourth start over fences.
Back Glen Road in the 14:40 at Kelso on Saturday
Back Saturday's double in one click here
Alan Dudman's notable recent winners
2026 Winners:
07/03/26: Cool Hoof Luke 4.4 BSP
28/02/26: Doyen Du Bar 3.36 BSP
21/02/26 Lookaway 4.43 BSP
14/02/26 Montregard 4.7 BSP Mondui'boy 1.8 BSP, Heathcliff 7.77 BSP
03/01/26 Tortured Soul 5.6 BSP
Winning recent multiples:
14/02/26: 40/1
01/11/25: 30/1