20:15 Worcester

Friday 25 May 2018

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

Mendola's Mate's Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 6m 8.10s

Sauvignon^h1¹⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 98| BF

5/1

Still yet to get off the mark but looked the likely winner when coming down at the last at Southwell last time out. Has been put up 8lb but looked so good there that there has to be every chance she can go close again.

Form: 0926/4F-

Duke's Affair^h⁹⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 97| BF

12/1

Not seen since December 2015, but was in excellent form at that point and is 4lb lower now. Entitled to come on for this first run back after such an absence, however.

Form: 718112/

Coisa Blanco⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96

14/1

Down the field on all three starts in novice/maiden company, and though he should run better on handicap debut off this mark, he still isn't of any interest from a win perspective.

Form: 685-

Good Man Hughie⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Shoemark| T: F Brennan| OR: 95| BF

25/1

Pulled up as if something were amiss at Southwell last time despite being co-favourite, but previously won off this mark in January 2017. Softer ground would be preferable.

Form: P1/372P-

Definite Winner^t⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 93

33/1

Showed little in bumpers/novice company, and plenty to prove now switching to handicaps, so she seems a unlikely player in this.

Form: 99/P07P-

Tir Dubh^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 91| CD

6/1

Slightly disappointing in handicap company given she managed to win a maiden hurdle over C&D well in 2016. May be able to improve for the return to this course.

Form: 1437/54-

Dalkadam^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 90

12/1

Return to hurdles having been well beaten over fences recently. Only previous win came over hurdles but that was on heavy ground, and this trip has to be a big question mark.

Form: 80345-3

Storm Warning¹⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 87

28/1

Poor form in novice hurdles and tough to see him playing a leading role based on form now switching to handicap company.

Form: 465/P50-

Bermeo^b³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 86| CD

3/1

C&D winner who ran his best race for a while when second at Exeter last time out. Ground likely to suit here and he holds strong claims off the same mark.

Form: 2/59762-

Admiral Blake^t¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 82

16/1

No win since January 2014, and though he's lower in the weights now he's shown only occasional bits of good form and would prefer softer ground.

Form: 572F5-5

Eaton Miller⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 81

9/2

Up to the longest trip he's tackled so far, but on the form he's shown to date he's going to have his work cut out off this mark.

Form: 909547-

Suffice^t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 80| C

20/1

Winner at Huntingdon in November 2016, but was then off the track for a year and hasn't shown anything like that level of form since.

Form: 7161/09-

Dan's Quest^p1¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 77

16/1

Yet to show much in the way of ability in any of his races, and needs first-time cheek pieces to spark an unlikely amount of improvement if he's to have a say here.

Form: 256P7/P

Non-Runners

Parwich Lees²⁰

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: T Scudamore

Waikiki Waves¹⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: James Bowen

Anndarrow³⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: R Johnson

Baihas⁸⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Robin De Broome¹⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: B Barr J: Thomas Garner

Forecasts

Bermeo (3/1), Eaton Miller (9/2), Anndarrow (9/2), Sauvignon (5/1), Tir Dubh (6/1), Baihas (10/1), Duke's Affair (12/1), Dalkadam (12/1), Coisa Blanco (14/1), Admiral Blake (16/1), Dan's Quest (16/1), Waikiki Waves (16/1), Suffice (20/1), Good Man Hughie (25/1), Robin De Broome (25/1), Parwich Lees (25/1), Storm Warning (28/1), Definite Winner (33/1)

A big field, but most of these are out of form. However, ANNDARROW improved for the step up in trip at Taunton last time out, and though she's 5lb higher here she holds obvious claims on ground that should suit and with further improvement possible. She can see off Sauvignon, who looked the likeliest winner at Southwell last time when falling two out, while Waikiki Waves could show a better level of form here.