14:40 Worcester

Thursday 26 July 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:2017:55

Harleys Global Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 5m 53.5s

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Selected odds by:

Mercers Court²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 106| BF

10/1

On a long losing run but has run the odd race with some sparkle although hardly doing enough to convince that he's going to put an end to his winless sequence. His mark has tumbled though and he'll cash in at some point.

Form: 7-62434

What A Laugh¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 13| Weight: 11-13| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 99| D

12/1

Confirmed the promise of last month's Bangor run over 3m when scoring decisively at Stratford 11 days over this sort of trip. Carries a penalty but likely remains one to be concerned with in this heat.

Form: UPP-251

Ready Token^p,t⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 105

12/1

Decent sixth at Market Rasen (3m, good-to-soft) on his return from a short break in April but well beaten in subsequent starts at Towcester and Newton Abbot. Front-running sort without a win since Warwick in 2016.

Form: PB66-44

Royale Django^t,v²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 104| CD

12/1

Going nowhere quickly at present and his jumping issues still remain, so is continually held back by that. Suspicion is there's a race in him when he gets it right, but guessing when that may be is tricky, and well beaten this month at Newton Abbot.

Form: 3PFP-75

King Spirit^p1¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey| OR: 104| BF

8/1

Pulled up on first start since wind surgery but put in an improved effort when fourth over 2m4f at Huntingdon (good) in May and built on that this month when 6L runner-up to What A Laugh at Stratford (2m6½f) 11 days ago. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 12/6-P42

Mr Satco^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: C J Down| OR: 102

16/1

Yet to win a handicap chase (though has taken hunter/beginners' chases), and recent form over both hurdles and fences leaves him with plenty of work to do. Marginally better at Stratford last time with champion jockey on board for the first time.

Form: 28P-304

Cruising Bye^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 95

6/1

Unlucky not to be of the mark for this yard after four starts, finishing second in three most recent of those. Returned from short break to take that placing over C&D 17 days ago, blinkers added first time here, should be in the mix.

Form: 38322-2

Cinevator^b⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss E Pickard⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 92| D

14/1

11-year-old has been prolific in point-to-points during his career but needs to go back more than three years to find any form worth talking about under rules and doesn't appeal here.

Form: 790P-11

Spock³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 90| C

40/1

Still below his last winning mark and would have a chance if he was on a going day although they can be few, unseated rider latest at Ffos Las (would likely have finished third). Hard to be trusting him however.

Form: 445-24R

Roparta Avenue^v⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 85

16/1

Could easily have scored over fences at Plumpton (3m1½f, good) or hurdles at Fontwell (3m2f, good) in first two starts this season, being outbattled late on. Less promising chasing back at Fontwell since and vulnerable despite dropping in drip.

Form: 414-225

Smiling Jessica¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 84

13/8

Modest 88-rated maiden hurdler for Rebecca Menzies during the last campaign. Chasing more recently for that yard and looks an interesting acquisition for new connections. May have needs Downpatrick run over timber 13 days and notable entry now.

Form: 22F1P-6

Brandy And Red^v1¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 84

66/1

Five-race maiden under rules, including heavy defeat here over 2m4f last month and 50L reverse at Newton Abbot last time in decent novice contest. Visor on first time, plenty more required.

Form: PP-3P93

Non-Runners

The Kvilleken¹¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 10

T: H James J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Smiling Jessica (13/8), Cruising Bye (6/1), King Spirit (8/1), Mercers Court (10/1), Royale Django (12/1), Ready Token (12/1), What A Laugh (12/1), Cinevator (14/1), Mr Satco (16/1), Roparta Avenue (16/1), Spock (40/1), The Kvilleken (50/1), Brandy And Red (66/1)

What A Laugh was a decisive winner at Stratford recently and has to command serious respect despite carrying a penalty now. King Spirit was 6L down in second that day and should go well again while money arriving for Irish raider Smiling Jessica would draw the eye on second start for new connections now back over fences. Similarly, Richard Johnson stays faithful to Mr Satco, so he is worth monitoring. The vote is with CRUISING BYE though, who was second over C&D recently off a short break and can get off the mark for this yard with new blinkers on here.