16:00 Worcester

Friday 29 September 2023

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

Download Vickers.Bet App Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 58.4s

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Selected odds by:

Ajp Kingdom⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| BF| C

7/2

Went close in a Ludlow novice back from a 5-month absence in April and odds-on winner of his next 3 starts at up to 23.3f. However, turned over by a more exposed rival when odds on for his handicap debut at Market Rasen (23f, good to firm) last month and improvement is needed here.

Form: 22-1112

Ikarak^p1¹⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 120

16/1

Fairly useful form in France (winning chaser). Jumped erratically when failing to beat his sole rival in a handicap at Fontwell on British/stable debut but better effort when runner-up returned to this sphere in a C&D novice in May. Absent since and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 12F12-2

Huelgoat^t¹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| BF

14/1

Much improved switched to chasing during second half of last year, completing quick-fire 4-timer at Newbury in November. Plenty of creditable efforts in defeat have followed but, not for the first time, his finishing effort was slightly underwhelming back hurdling here when last seen in May.

Form: 13224-2

Our Scholar²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Jack Jones| OR: 120

11/1

Improved performer this summer, completing the hat-trick when making a winning handicap debut in this sphere at Southwell (15.8f, good) in July. Continued the good work when scoring on the Flat earlier this month and while this is more demanding, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 52-3111

Young Merlin³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 117

17/2

Three-time winner on the Flat and has quickly established himself as a good prospect over hurdles, making it 3-3 in this sphere in a Cartmel handicap (17.2f, soft) last month. 4 lb rise fair enough and there's probably more to come.

Form: 111

Ike Sport^p,t⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116| CD

7/1

Raised his game considerably back from 4 months off when seeing off a subsequent winner in handicap at Taunton in March. Done little wrong since, most recently landing the odds in a C&D novice, but this is his most demanding assignment to date.

Form: 126-221

Allihies^t⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| CD

6/1

Flat winner in Ireland and opened hurdles account in 3-runner handicap at Warwick at the end of May. Progressed when scoring over this C&D last time and he's one to consider, for all that this demands another step forward.

Form: 3-42121

Manimole⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Turner⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112| BF| C

6/1

Hasn't finished out of the first two in 7 outings in maiden/novice company since May but she looks vulnerable off this mark now back in a handicap.

Form: 212212

The Galahad Kid¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

14/1

Unbeaten in 2 bumpers last summer and off the mark at the second attempt in this sphere at Stratford (16.3f, good) in July. However, safely held both starts since and needs to raise his game now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 11-2123

Hobie²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 108| C

66/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points and stepped up on low-key hurdles debut when landing a 2m maiden here in May. However, he ran no sort of a race in the Southwell novice won by Manimole back from a break this month.

Form: 10-5134

En Avant^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 106| C

12/1

Improved form when making a winning stable debut fitted with a tongue tie over 2m here in July. Duly followed up under a penalty in a Fontwell novice (21.8f, good) and merits respect, for all that he now has more on his plate.

Form: 954-U11

Gaius³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 108| C

20/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Richard Hannon and off the mark over hurdles in a 2m maiden here in June. Ran no sort of a race in a Cartmel handicap next time and, though back on track when runner-up in a novice event back here last month, others make more appeal.

Form: 4-22102

Faded Fantasy⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 107| D

25/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Ger Lyons and made the most of a good opportunity with plenty in hand in 12-runner maiden hurdle at Southwell (20.4f, good) in June. Disappointing on handicap debut in this sphere at Uttoxeter next time, though.

Form: 553-21P

Painless Potter¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103| CD

25/1

Winner on the Flat last year and deservedly opened hurdles account when making all in a C&D novice handicap (soft) recently. 5 lb higher mark by no means prohibitive starting out on debut for new yard and he's not without hope.

Form: 225331

Woodie Flash^b1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 103| C

20/1

£20,000 purchase after getting off the mark in Irish points at the second attempt in February. Made it third time lucky over hurdles when landing a 23f maiden here in July but made hard work of things when third in a handicap back here last month. Now tried in blinkers.

Form: 41-2213

Baikal^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 102| C

33/1

Surprise winner of 2m maiden on second start over hurdles here in May. Added to that when landing a Southwell handicap (15.8f, good to firm) last time but his overall profile is far from convincing and he looks vulnerable up 4 lb.

Form: 6-16781

Forecasts

Ajp Kingdom (7/2), Allihies (6/1), Manimole (6/1), Ike Sport (7/1), Young Merlin (17/2), Our Scholar (11/1), En Avant (12/1), Huelgoat (14/1), The Galahad Kid (14/1), Ikarak (16/1), Woodie Flash (20/1), Gaius (20/1), Faded Fantasy (25/1), Painless Potter (25/1), Baikal (33/1), Hobie (66/1)

With the promise of better to come from YOUNG MERLIN, he is taken to preserve his unbeaten record over hurdles. The 7-y-o appeared to have more in hand than the margin of victory would imply at Cartmel last time and a subsequent 4 lb rise is by no means harsh. Our Scholar and En Avant both appear to be on upward curves and are feared most in that order of preference, while Painless Potter is also shortlisted.