14:00 Worcester

Monday 18 September 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

R & A Mason Electrical And Heating Handicap Chase (Div 1)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 48.20s

Definitly Grey^t¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 102

8/1

Southwell winner over hurdles last year he ran no sort of race on his debut over fences (C&D) last time out putting in a very laboured outfit. Drops a few pounds in the handicap to allow him to run in an easier grade but has now been pulled-up in last two starts.

Form: 4127-PP

Abbeygrey⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 101

1/1

Returned from a break and found his form when winning under this pilot in a conditional rider's event at Newton Abbot. Helped by the way the race developed (held-up in a strongly run race but not sure to follow-up turned out again quickly.

Form: 122P-51

Generous Chief^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 100| D

6/1

Has produced some below-par efforts this year looking out of sorts and taking little interest. The visor worn for his last two wins goes back on here but he still makes limited appeal even in this lower class.

Form: 32-8759

Thady Quil^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 94| C

11/1

Hardly has the strongest overall profile although he did win here over 2m4f in July off a 12lb lower mark. Has failed to back that run up off a higher mark and looks to have his own ideas about the game and is one to exercise caution with.

Form: 645146

Withoutdefavourite⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 88

10/1

Has won in the point-to-point field but failed to cut much ice in Hunter Chases and ran very poorly over hurdles at Southwell on first start for this yard. Hard to find many positives about his chance apart from today's rider.

Form: 1236/4-P

Backoftherock^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D A Rees| OR: 83

25/1

Had looked poor over hurdles and fared no better over fences when making his debut over them at Newton Abbot recently. Finished a well beaten fourth there (jumped without any fluency) and best watched here until his jumping improves.

Form: U785F4

Xenophon³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Broughton⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 80

12/1

Took and age to get off the mark but did so in a poor race at Doncaster in late 2015 and then managed to follow-up off an 8lb higher mark. Lightly raced since then he at least showed that he retains some ability last time and is back below his last winning mark.

Form: 13PP/P3

The Land Agent⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Dave Crosse| T: D L Williams| OR: 78

50/1

Goes handicapping over fences for the first time after two runs in novice company (out of his depth in one). Looks of little account on his outings so far and others preferred here.

Form: 25486P

Irish Octave^p³⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 71

16/1

Looked poor over hurdles and isn't looking likely to do much better over fences having offered little on chase debut. His next try over the larger obstacles was little better in first-time cheekpieces and couldn't be recommended here.

Form: 5/36356-

Spanish Optimist^v⁹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: Miss Sarah Robinson| OR: 67

100/1

Runs from well out of the handicap here having been pulled-up in his last five chase starts and having little solid form to comment on here. Can only said to be of little account now.

Form: 4PPP-PP

Non-Runners

Royal Chief²⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Abbeygrey (1/1), Generous Chief (6/1), Royal Chief (7/1), Definitly Grey (8/1), Withoutdefavourite (10/1), Thady Quil (11/1), Xenophon (12/1), Irish Octave (16/1), Backoftherock (25/1), The Land Agent (50/1), Spanish Optimist (100/1)

Not a race that gets the blood racing to start the card with mostly disappointing and out of form types participating. Abbeygrey is turned out quickly (might not be ideal) again after his win last time out and given that he doesn’t carry a penalty here he has to be respected. Xenophon looked as though he might be on his way back last time out and while Thady Quill can be given a modest chance on his win here although he has looked limited and ungenuine since. ROYAL CHIEF is the one offered up as a token selection here given that he might be able to build on his hurdles outing last time back over the bigger obstacles and he did travel well throughout that race and a repeat of that may well be good enough.