17:15 Worcester

Wednesday 29 August 2018

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Chris Pennell's Sparkling Testimonial Year Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 5m 49.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Bagad Bihoue³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

8/1

At his best on quicker ground than forecast but he has handled some give previously. Back at his right level having struggled last time but his stamina will be tested.

Form:

Shantou Village³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 139

3/1

Top-class novice in 2016-17 who has dropped to an attractive mark. Looked more like his old self in better company last time and when Bagad Bihoue was 6½L behind.

Form:

Quite By Chance^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139| D

20/1

Got punished by the handicapper having scored at Ascot in 2016 and then running Sire De Grugy to just over a length. Winless since and still 4lb above his last successful mark. Disappointing last time and others have stronger claims.

Form:

Henri Parry Morgan^b,t¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139| C

10/1

Without a run since failing to complete the Scottish Grand National. Has gone well fresh in the past but yet to win from a mark above 135.

Form:

Ozzy Thomas²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 132| C

9/1

Needs a sound surface but ideally suited to this trip and better handicapped following his latest run. Has every chance providing there is no further rain.

Form:

Marquis Of Carabas²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 132

25/1

Went close at Ffos Las but harshly reassessed as a result and he was less convincing as a result next time. Good 5lb claimer will assist but a record of 2-26 does not look good enough in this company.

Form:

Cuirassier Dempire⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 130| CD

20/1

Form of his two chase successes was enhanced by some of those behind him and hard to dismiss his chances despite a 12lb rise in the weights since. Failed to distinguish himself on reappearance and that casts a more serious doubt.

Form:

Above Board²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| CD

7/2

C&D winner who scored on his reappearance and would have finished much closer last time but for losing all momentum at the last. Remains unexposed over fences and a career record of 4-8 makes him hard to rule out.

Form:

Toviere⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127

12/1

It was not the best of class 3 races he won at Ascot and his limitations have been exposed since. Remains vulnerable in this company judged on his latest efforts.

Form:

Scoop The Pot^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| CD

12/1

His first two runs over fences were in three-runner affairs and his jumping fell apart in a bigger field last time. On that showing it is doubtful he has what it takes to score here.

Form:

Florrie Boy³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123

10/1

Slick hurdler who should make a chaser. Has only had the one run over these obstacles and that makes this a stiff task against this class of opponent.

Form:

Forecasts

Shantou Village (3/1), Above Board (7/2), Bagad Bihoue (8/1), Ozzy Thomas (9/1), Florrie Boy (10/1), Henri Parry Morgan (10/1), Scoop The Pot (12/1), Toviere (12/1), Cuirassier Dempire (20/1), Quite By Chance (20/1), Marquis Of Carabas (25/1)

The ground will need to dry out for Ozzy Thomas but he has to be shortlisted if conditions were to suit. Bagad Bihoue has to prove his stamina under a big weight and Cuirassier Dempire has to rebound from a poor run on his reappearance. Marquis of Carabas and Quite By Chance have tough tasks on these terms, but Shantou Village is nicely weighted and appeared to be recapturing his novice form last time. ABOVE BOARD is a progressive chaser who would have gone close at Bangor but for getting in too tight at the last and losing momentum. He has scored over these easy fences in the past and leaves the impression there is better still to come.