16:40 Worcester

Sunday 24 June 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

Bet toteWIN At totesport.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 3m 40.70s

Celestial Path^b1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

5/1

Still to win over hurdles, and needs first-time blinkers here to have a marked effect if he's to play a part off top weight here.

Form: 4/4359-P

St Patrick's Day^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 97

16/1

Some winning form on the Flat but yet to transfer that to performances over hurdles, including in handicaps. Will almost certainly struggle off this mark.

Form: 3F45-05

Hatem^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N P Madden| T: C R Dore| OR: 96

16/1

Yet to get off the mark over hurdles and has looked to be going the wrong way on the basis of his last few performances. Down just 1lb now.

Form: 9-23686

Thames Knight⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 94

9/2

Hasn't finished within 30 lengths of a winner since switching to this yard and going over hurdles, and it could be a similar story this time around.

Form: 990U70-

Executive Prince^h1⁶¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 91

10/1

Can only be watched on first start since October 2016, with a hood applied and a generally patchy profile through maiden hurdles and in his early handicaps.

Form: 6533P6/

Involve²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 91

33/1

Showed little in bumpers/maiden/novice company, and though he should be better for the switch to handicaps he'll need to be to mount a meaningful challenge.

Form: 8607-70

Pirolo^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: N J Hawke| OR: 88

9/1

Some winning form on the Flat but yet to really make his mark over hurdles, including when beaten 27L at Southwell last time out.

Form: P0-030

Poet's Charm^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: M Hill| OR: 89

14/1

Slightly better dropping to Class 4 company at Newton Abbot last time out, and 3lb drop won't help (same jockey can claim 3lb here as well). Up in trip but that shouldn't be an issue.

Form: FF6-45

May Mist¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Josh Wall⁽⁵⁾| T: T Wall| OR: 85

66/1

Down the field on all of her starts over obstacles to date, and didn't show much more on the Flat. Others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 60/C9-0

Akkapenko^p1⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 86

14/1

Down the field on three starts over hurdles so far but it could be a different story now in handicaps, with this mark looking a potentially suitable one for him.

Form: 087-

Scotsbrook Night^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: R Johnson| T: S Lycett| OR: 82

11/4

Another step forward at Southwell last time out when finding only one too good. Eye-catching jockey booking here and needs to be considered off the same mark.

Form: 65F9-32

Sprogzilla^h³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: H James| OR: 80

16/1

Not disgraced on quick ground back in handicaps for seasonal return last time out. If improving for the run she shouldn't be ruled out lightly.

Form: 20/638-4

Forecasts

Scotsbrook Night (11/4), Thames Knight (9/2), Celestial Path (5/1), Pirolo (9/1), Executive Prince (10/1), Poet's Charm (14/1), Akkapenko (14/1), Sprogzilla (16/1), St Patrick's Day (16/1), Hatem (16/1), Involve (33/1), May Mist (66/1)

This doesn't look the deepest novices' handicap hurdle of all time and the answer may well be SCOTSBROOK NIGHT, who has been progressing nicely recently for Shaun Lycett, including when second at Southwell last time out, and off the same mark can take another forward step here to be the one to be with. In a race where it may pay to look towards the bottom of the weights, Sprogzilla and Poet's Charm are others for the shortlist.