18:35 Worcester

Wednesday 30 August 2017

All16:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Bet toteWin At betfred.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 4m 53.40s

Maximus Maridius¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 106

9/1

Caught the eye when finishing midfield at Newton Abbot in July but an early casualty over fences at Bangor next time. Reverts to hurdles here and a question mark over this trip, but this looks easier and he can't be discounted.

Form: 5PU-66F

Keating^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 105

10/3

Decent first effort for the yard when fourth at Newton Abbot and this step back up in trip looks a positive move. Looks onna fair enough mark and the biggest worry is the lack of winners for the yard (just 5 this season so far).

Form: 03862-4

Rebel Beat²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: David Dennis| OR: 101

7/1

Ran a little better than finishing position suggested here last time out, travelled well but effort petered out late, Early days yet and may do better again here if digging in better when the pressure's applied.

Form: F5553-4

Walter Oneeightone¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96

12/1

Thrashed out of sight all starts so far, and did no better for going handicapping on final start. In good hands and connections keeping the faith, so suggestion is that better should be expected at some point, but predicting when isn't easy.

Form: 99796-

Shanksforamillion³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 91| CD

6/5

Improving quickly, not unbacked when winning here (at 10/1) in July and followed that up easily over C&D again next time out. Handicapper having his say now but looks the sort to keep improving and may be a hard nut to crack again.

Form: P368/11

Black Banjo^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 91| D

33/1

Winner of a couple of minor-point-to-points and not completely disgraced in a claiming hurdle here on first start for yard in June (cheekpieces, on then, missing today). Below par last time and now needs to bounce back. Others preferred.

Form: 045-P78

Keepin Time¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 90

16/1

With a top trainer but has shown very little to date and didn't pull any trees up in her first handicap at Bangor latest, well beaten at the finish and never involved at any stage. Only of interest if strong in the market.

Form: 5909-9

Racing Spirit^t1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 90

22/1

Didn't do too badly when third (over further and on softer ground) at Uttoxeter in June but hasn't run to that level in two subsequent efforts. Needs the application of a tongue tie today to make a big difference and others readily preferred.

Form: 463-370

Non-Runners

Ring Eye²¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: S-J Davies J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Shanksforamillion (6/5), Keating (10/3), Rebel Beat (7/1), Maximus Maridius (9/1), Walter Oneeightone (12/1), Keepin Time (16/1), Ring Eye (20/1), Racing Spirit (22/1), Black Banjo (33/1)

With no pacemaker in the field, this has all the hallmarks of a messy contest and caution is advised. SHANKSAMILLION is doing nothing but improve and with no trip or ground worries, can go in again before the handicapper finally starts to catch up with him. Maximus Maridius got no further than the first last time but should be happier back over hurdles. Keating may take the bronze, but the likes of Walteroneeightone and Keepin Time both need a market check.