14:15 Worcester

Monday 11 June 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Thursfields Solicitors Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 2.90s

Dark Invader³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

8/1

Very lightly raced over hurdles and things didn't go to plan on chasing debut at Worcester (2m4f, good) when badly hampered around halfway. Beaten a long way but should be capable of better at some point.

Form: 2/3444-6

Le Curieux^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| OR: 99| D

7/2

Mark has now fallen a total of 24lbs since joining this yard and is very well handicapped. Showed a little more than has been the case of late at Ffos Las (2m5f, good) 11 days ago and is an each-way player at the very least.

Form: P654-45

A Montmartre³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 97| D

14/1

Won a handicap hurdle off this mark back in April 2017. Not a great deal happened since including on chase debut last time at Wincanton where she shaped like a she may benefit from going over further. Questions to answer over this trip.

Form: 351/F8-4

Hurricane Rita⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: C R Dore| OR: 96| D

10/1

Winner on heavy ground over hurdles at Fakenham in January but form reached a plateau in that sphere of late. Was just getting into things here last time over C&D when coming down four out. Player here on that evidence.

Form: 2630-6F

Scrupuleux^h⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 88

16/1

Hasn't cut much ice over fences so far in five attempts. You can probably put a line through his run here last week as he broke a blood vessel. This is second run after a wind operation and hard to be trusted at present.

Form: PP7P-45

Opera Buffa^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: S Flook| OR: 72WS

66/1

Very moderate on the Flat, showing very little, well beaten in a point-to-point and also beaten 88L on sole chase start. Likely to find this tough going once more.

Form: PP/44-5

Welsh Designe^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 71

16/1

Point-to-point winner who is 0/10 under rules. Hasn't looked particular well handicapped so far over fences. This is only his second run after a wind op and second run for this trainer so better is possible, but hard to fancy all the same.

Form: F36/55-6

Valshan Time^b⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 71

50/1

Not a great deal to show from some tough tasks over fences so far. On a lowly mark and yard can get them ready. Only second run after a wind op and return at Exeter wasn't all bad considering he was badly hampered. Market move significant.

Form: 34U45P-

League Of His Own^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 64

1/1

Poor form under rules but successful twice in point-to-point company over 2m4f this year including when making all on good ground last time out. One to note with talented rider claiming 5lbs.

Form: P124-21

Forecasts

League Of His Own (1/1), Le Curieux (7/2), Dark Invader (8/1), Hurricane Rita (10/1), A Montmartre (14/1), Scrupuleux (16/1), Welsh Designe (16/1), Valshan Time (50/1), Opera Buffa (66/1)

Money for either Valshan Time or Dark Invader could well be significant and should be noted. Better is surely expected of the latter at some stage and he is respected. Hurricane Rita was just getting involved here when coming down four out last time and is a player. LE CURIEUX is so well handicapped though that he has to take advantage of that at some point and this is a weaker contest than the one he ran well in at Ffos Las last time.