20:00 Worcester

Wednesday 22 August 2018

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

All Weather Pool Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 5m 45.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

His Dream²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

7/2

Made hard work of winning last time out at Stratford although his attitude was hard to fault finding plenty to lead close home. Given an even greater test of stamina here which will suit and only raised 4lb for that last effort.

Form: 650-971

Howlongisafoot^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 99| BF| CD

14/1

Not the most reliable sort in the past but did manage to build on a pair of runner up efforts when winning a C&D handicap. Despite the 8lb rise for that win he still looked well handicapped on his old form but ran poor here last time.

Form: P6-2218

Midnight Magic^b1,t¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 98WS

14/1

Could be given a chance on his Taunton 3rd over a staying trip back in November but he's been a long way from matching that form since; nearly refused to race last time. Returns now after wind surgery with something to prove.

Form: 083B5-8

Western Storm^t1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 97

20/1

Caught the eye on his comeback run under considerate handling after a long absence but failed to match or improve on that form next time finding very little for pressure. Tongue-tie now goes on for the first-time.

Form: 69P4/65

Boethius²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 94| CD

4/1

Ran as well in defeat last time (2nd to His Dream) as when winning on his previous start at over C&D when he made the most of a falling mark. Looks the type to hold his form now and should once again run a creditable race given a stamina test.

Form: 311-812

Royal Chieftain³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 92

66/1

Point-to-point winner who will have more chance now that he goes handicapping than he did in novice events. Ran his best race on his 2nd Rules start and a repeat of that would make him of interest here off a decent mark.

Form: PP5/636

Big Picture^p⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: J Farrelly| OR: 90| BF

7/1

First-time blinkers may well have been the catalyst behind his improved and winning form at Market Rasen in June when well backed. May not have seen out a similar trip last time at Uttoxeter after a hefty 12lb rise in the weights.

Form: 670-315

Lady Vitesse^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 87

33/1

Could be given a chance on her 3rd at Southwell in May but she's regressed from that outing with both her starts since below-par. More of a worry is the fact that she has started to show a poor attitude and might be one to wary of stepped up in trip.

Form: 66-5350

Midnight Aurora²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 85

8/1

Has been well held in all her events so far and didn't take a step forward when given her handicap debut and easy to back for one from this stable. Now given a marked increase in trip in the hope of some finding some progress.

Form: P5955

Centreofexcellence^h,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: S Flook| OR: 80

50/1

Having won off a lowly mark at Bangor in April he's found it mainly tough going since off increased marks; last two starts have been below-par. Pulled-up on his latest start he'll need to show more to be of interest here.

Form: 31-438P

Phoenix Rock^b1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 74

7/1

There was a little promise in her penultimate run over C&D finishing a modest 4th before she proved a disappointment last time returned to the same C&D. Blinkers now given a try in a bid to rekindle her form but remains an uncertain proposition.

Form: 090-440

Gaelic Flow²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 73

9/1

Still a maiden he has ground to make up on a couple of today's rivals who he finished behind at Stratford last time. Slips again in the weights but looks modest overall and would need a few to falter to win this.

Form: 98-3494

Starlit Night⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 71

25/1

Upped in trip she finally got off the mark at Stratford over a year ago but has shown little since and even less returning from a break in June. Others have a more persuasive profile.

Form: 00P-806

Mr Mulliner^b¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 69| D

50/1

Lost his way when trained in Ireland and he's done little better since changing stables and running over hurdles and fences in GB. Hard to think that he's going to make much of an impact here.

Form: 0P-PP7U

Spanish Optimist^b⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Miss Sarah Robinson| OR: 44

200/1

Appears here having achieved very little of late and 29lb out of the handicap; would be a major surprise were he to feature.

Form: PP85-P9

Forecasts

His Dream (7/2), Boethius (4/1), Phoenix Rock (7/1), Big Picture (7/1), Midnight Aurora (8/1), Gaelic Flow (9/1), Howlongisafoot (14/1), Midnight Magic (14/1), Western Storm (20/1), Starlit Night (25/1), Lady Vitesse (33/1), Mr Mulliner (50/1), Centreofexcellence (50/1), Royal Chieftain (66/1), Spanish Optimist (200/1)

Plenty that would need to find some of their old form to take a hand here and this may be best left to the Stratford 1-2 of His Dream and BOETHIUS with Tim Vaughan’s charge taken to reverse those placing on this occasion on slightly better terms. Royal Chieftan makes his handicap debut and may do better in this sphere having shown some ability in point-to-points and novice hurdles. Big Picture looks as though to return to shorter to be effective again with Midnight Aurora having to find some improvement to take a hand with hopes pinned on the increased trip to provide that. Gaelic Flow is a consistent sort and would have place claims if running up to his best.