17:30 Worcester

Wednesday 23 August 2017

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

Startin Honda Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 3m 54.10s

Gabrial The Great^p1,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 138| D

10/1

Going well at present and latest second to Vikekhal given a boost when that one ran well in better grade at the weekend. Trip and likely ground both fine, but yard struggling for winners this season and that's offputting for win purposes.

Form: 155-532

Abidjan^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

8/1

Jumped superbly when winning at Warwick in May but handicapper has looked in charge since, and he has plenty of ground to make up on Gabriel The Great on their running here last time. Needs to bounce back to best.

Form: 42-1333

Vosne Romanee^p,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133| D

9/2

Useful over hurdles, and has made a good start to chasing career, winning two and losing no caste in defeat to Bagad Bihoue last time. Handicapper cuts him some slack too, and he looks a big player here, with trip and likely ground ideal.

Form: 74-P112

Ink Master²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| BF| CD

8/1

Looks good when on song, as when beating the well-handicapped Spring Steel here in June, but finished weakly after going off too quickly last time. Chances if proving more amenable to restraint here but not one for the mortgage after that effort.

Form: 661-216

Notarfbad^h³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 132| D

12/1

Probably still on a workable mark, and a lot to like about his run behind Tangolan at Perth after almost seven months away. This trip a bare minimum for him, but likely to get an easy time on the front, and if allowed too much rope, has a chance.

Form: 3B623-3

Poker School³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 131| D

15/8

Still not fully exposed over fences and ran a cracker in Market Rasen's Listed Plate last time out. Slight suspicion that he might be happier right-handed, and this trip looks on the short side, so on those scores, others preferred today.

Form: 1146-64

Owen Na View^b⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| CD

25/1

Every chance from a handicapping point of view, as he's 10lb better for three lengths with Ink Master on their run here in June. Moderate since but the quicker they go the better, and he's simply too well handicapped to ignore at present.

Form: P-04PU5

Canicallyouback³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115| CD

11/2

Won off a similar mark last season, so no issues from a handicapping point of view, but recent form nothing special and yard have gone right off the boil. Others readily preferred.

Form: P3-4553

Walden Prince¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 111| D

40/1

Tends to ply his trade in lesser grace and recent form has taken a turn for the worse. Well beaten at a big price last time and no realistic chance here.

Form: 44P3F-7

Forecasts

Poker School (15/8), Vosne Romanee (9/2), Canicallyouback (11/2), Abidjan (8/1), Ink Master (8/1), Gabrial The Great (10/1), Notarfbad (12/1), Owen Na View (25/1), Walden Prince (40/1)

A good little race for the money and plenty can be given some sort of a chance. Notarfbad is likely to make a bold bid from the front but may find one or two others have a bit too much toe at the business end, and VOSNE ROMANEE is top of that list. He looks to have more to offer and this should be run to suit him. Owen Na View has some moderate looking form figures but there have been excuses and he could outrun likely big odds. A wide open race for third can be taken by Poker School.