19:45 Worcester

Friday 25 May 2018

All17:4018:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Richard Allen, David Hellyar & The Waters Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 5m 57.10s

The Bottom Bar⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127

4/7

Off the mark in a maiden at Market Rasen last time out. Carries a penalty here but is improving and every chance this longer trip may help with that progression.

Form: 6/221-

Athreeothree^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber

50/1

Finished third on second hurdles start last time out, but still 25L behind Stradivarius Davis, and even with that reopposing rival carrying a penalty it's very tough to imagine him reversing that form.

Form: 12F/15-3

Dream Brother²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: W Greatrex

16/1

Point-to-point winner who looked outpaced over 2m on hurdles debut last time out. This step up in trip should help but he's still likely to find one or two too good.

Form: 1/8-

Drovers Lane¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

16/1

Point-to-point winner but down the field in a bumper and novice hurdle under rules so far, and unless this better ground dramatically improves that form it's likely to be a similar story today.

Form: 31/85-

Little Vic¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

100/1

Couldn't improve for the switch to this yard at Fakenham last time out, and no surprise to see him finish down the field once again here.

Form: 9P/5

Mance Rayder³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

5/2

Much better on third start over hurdles last time out when finishing a fairly close fourth at Bangor, and a repeat of that level of form could see him on the premises again here.

Form: 1/PP4-

Orchard Thieves⁸²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

20/1

Runner-up in a point-to-point in February 2016. Off since and makes his rules debut here, but trip should suit and very interesting to see how he gets on.

Form: 2/

Non-Runners

Stradivarius Davis¹⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

The Bottom Bar (4/7), Stradivarius Davis (15/8), Mance Rayder (5/2), Drovers Lane (16/1), Dream Brother (16/1), Orchard Thieves (20/1), Athreeothree (50/1), Little Vic (100/1)

Like the previous race this is a novice hurdle where the previous winners look like the pair to focus on despite the penalties they carry. STRADIVARIUS DAVIS took a big step forward to get off the mark in good style at Wincanton last time out, and even with the extra weight could prove too good for the best of these. He can see off fellow winner The Bottom Bar, who looks the main danger, while Athreeothree could be third best.