16:35 Worcester

Monday 18 September 2017

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

Worcester News Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 33.3s

Nautical Nitwit²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

14/1

Well backed at Cartmel last month in a race where he probably ran better than his finishing position suggests. Remains 3lb above his last winning mark and faces a fairly stiff task giving weight away to the entire field here.

Form: 2810-34

Mister Fizz¹⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss I Pickard| OR: 130

50/1

Comes back from a absence here having not shown much of late with his best form coming way back in 2015. Given his form and time off others are far higher in the pecking order here.

Form: 4150/00-

Forza Milan²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

4/1

His hurdling form has shown some steady progression in novice company and he justified favouritism last time out in that sphere at Chepstow over 2n4f back in February. Now returns from a break making his handicap debut and capable off this mark.

Form: 6221-

Mr Mcguiness²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 126| BF| C

12/1

Won back-to-back handicap hurdles over the 2m4f trip here in June off marks of 114 and 118. Has run with credit in two starts since both over the same C&D but his mark now looks rather inflated and a place may be the best he can hope for.

Form: S-21145

Mr Shantu^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| CD

25/1

A four-time hurdles winner with one of those wins coming over C&D and he showed how well he goes round here when winning over fences last year. Back over hurdles his last two starts are rather underwhelming and best watched for now.

Form: 415U-66

Verygoodverygood^t⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124

25/1

Last November saw him score back-to-back handicap wins but he quickly went off the boil and looked rather inconsistent. Tried over fences here last time he jumped poorly and is quickly returned to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 3202-P4

Luccombe Down⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123| BF| D

10/1

Came straight out of the traps for this yard completing a hat-trick last summer before his form rather came back a level. Got back on track on his penultimate start over C&D with run best ignored last time (lost a shoe) and better expected now.

Form: 64-4537

Holly Bush Henry^b1¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: P W Middleton| OR: 122

25/1

Looks to have rather lost his way having formerly been a useful hurdler but is struggling of late and was well below form at Southwell last time out. Can only be watched in his current form.

Form: 23-9665

Desert Sensation^p,t²¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 122| D

8/1

Given a break after winning three handicap hurdles from October - December last year the last off a mark 113 and ran with credit after that. Little bit to prove here though and would prefer some more give in the ground.

Form: 311355-

Werenearlyoutofit⁷⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 113| C

10/1

Would be of interest if the ability that he showed in 2015 remains as he makes his handicap debut rather belatedly. Can't have been easy to train given his overall record but has run well when fresh and worth watching in the market.

Form: 231031/

Altesse De Guye⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 113

10/1

Back over hurdles last time out and wasn't disgraced (struck into and lost a shoe) having looked to show some decent form over fences. Very consistent last year and defied a mark like this at Cheltenham and would be of interest if repeating that run here.

Form: 35522-6

Robert's Star²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 112| CD

7/1

C&D winner off 4lb lower last year with a front-running display but has never really built on that in four runs since (couple over fences). Wasn't beaten far on his latest start however and now back at the scene of his last win.

Form: 1223P-5

Lime Street^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110| D

9/2

A winner on his debut for this yard he's managed two runner-up slots since off higher marks although he was squeezed up another two pounds for getting beaten last time. Should be able to get competitive again though with the cheekpieces left off.

Form: P3-3122

Forecasts

Forza Milan (4/1), Lime Street (9/2), Robert's Star (7/1), Desert Sensation (8/1), Luccombe Down (10/1), Altesse De Guye (10/1), Werenearlyoutofit (10/1), Mr Mcguiness (12/1), Nautical Nitwit (14/1), Holly Bush Henry (25/1), Verygoodverygood (25/1), Mr Shantu (25/1), Mister Fizz (50/1)

Forza Milan should not struggle at this trip making his handicap debut off a break as he’s a brother to Grand National winner One For Arthur and he has plenty of scope for improvement. Verygoodverygood will feel happier back over hurdles after his chasing outing last time out while Robert’s Star and Lime Street also make some appeal given their past exploits. Altesse De Guye is back on her last winning mark and may be happier with a couple of runs under her belt but a chance is taken with LUCCOMBE DOWN. He now runs with the headgear discarded and looks dangerous if he can recapture last year’s form. Desert Sensation looks well fancied in the market but the ground might not be soft enough for him to return to winning form with Werenearlyoutofit worth looking out for in the market.