13:50 Worcester

Saturday 7 June 2025

All13:5014:2515:0515:4516:2016:5017:2517:55

FBC Manby Bowdler Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 11.38s

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Selected odds by:

Begin The Luck^p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 96| D

12/1

Capitalised on a lower hurdles mark at Stratford (18.7f, heavy) in October and placed several times since, including at Newton Abbot (also on heavy) on penultimate start. Followed that with a poor effort at Warwick, though, and one or two of these look more solid.

Form: 43302-6

Up For Appeal^p1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 91

12/1

Off the mark in this sphere at Newton Abbot (21f, good) last June, but it's been downhill pretty much all the way since and hopes here pinned on the first-time cheekpieces working the oracle.

Form: 4P5F0-8

Special Dragon^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 91

5/2

Fair 21f hurdles winner who has stepped up on low-key reappearance when third at Haydock in April. Pulled well clear of the rest when chasing home an odds-on winner at Uttoxeter (21f, good) next time and a first win over fences is surely near.

Form: 28F53-2

Calli Black¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Davies| T: D Weston| OR: 90

20/1

Maiden point winner in January 2023, but she failed to trouble the judge over hurdles and recent chase debut at Ffos Las wasn't overly promising.

Form: 674P4-3

Greenrock Abbey^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 82

5/2

Dual 2m handicap chase winner at Hereford during 2022/23 campaign. Winless since, but has plummeted down the weights and is one to watch closely in the betting on debut for shrewd new yard.

Form: P4564-4

Tribesmans Glory¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 80| D

33/1

Ended a long losing run over this trip at Warwick last spring and bounced back following a couple of poor efforts when third in an 8-runner Chepstow handicap in March. However, his jumping has gone to pot in 2 subsequent starts and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 66P3P-4

Bruce Gobbler^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 77| D

11/1

Successful between the flags last May and performed with credit on a couple of occasions over hurdles at Taunton this spring. Failed to make an impact on debut in this sphere last time, though, and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 14753-5

Whynotnowroy^h,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 75

7/1

Winning handicap hurdler who showed plenty to work on sent chasing at Taunton (23f, good to soft) in January. Hasn't gone on from that in 3 subsequent starts in this sphere but the handicapper has been quick to show mercy and he's not one ro write off just yet.

Form: 28458-2

Gorcombe Moonshine^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 73

10/1

Solid second back chasing in 2¼m Fontwell handicap on Boxing Day, a race he won 12 months earlier. Largely respectable efforts since and he's on a workable mark, but he nevertheless looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 3730-33

King Of The Story^t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Benjamin Poste| T: P Gundry| OR: 72

16/1

Showed improved form on second start for current yard when winning a 21.6f handicap at Fontwell in August 2023. After 16 months off, shaped as if better for the run back there in March, but he failed to build on that next time and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 4264/78-

Forecasts

Greenrock Abbey (5/2), Special Dragon (5/2), Whynotnowroy (7/1), Gorcombe Moonshine (10/1), Bruce Gobbler (11/1), Begin The Luck (12/1), Up For Appeal (12/1), King Of The Story (16/1), Calli Black (20/1), Tribesmans Glory (33/1)

Judged on recent efforts SPECIAL DRAGON's maiden status in this sphere is on borrowed time and she is taken to confirm that impression by taking this. The main caveat is that she was beaten by one who was making his debut for the James Owen yard at Uttoxeter three weeks ago and faces another answering to that description here in Greenrock Abbey. It will be an ominous sign for his rivals if he is strong in the betting. Whynotnowroy is best of the rest.