13:50 Worcester

Monday 9 July 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:2517:0017:30

R & A Mason Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 5m 52.1s

Master Sunrise^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 102

6/4

Placed in four of his six starts under Rules and ran a decent race when runner-up in Stratford novice hunter chase last month. Handed top weight on handicap debut and first start for current yard.

Form: 32P3-42

Midnight Gem^p1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 99

11/1

Just 1-26 to date, only success coming over hurdles at Huntingdon in November 2016. Ran well when third at Market Rasen on penultimate start but poor effort last time and is inconsistent.

Form: 26P-535

Ballycoe^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 98| CD

11/1

Handicapper is relenting but still hasn't shown enough in recent outings to suggest his winning turn is just around the corner. Interesting to see how he copes with potentially fastest ground to date.

Form: 83F/U-36

Follow The Swallow^t,v²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 97| BF

8/1

Only win in 18 starts came at Thurles a few years back. Fair second at Market Rasen two starts ago but pulled up latest so has questions to answer and would appreciate the ground a little slower than forecast.

Form: P8P-52P

Orchestrated²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 95

16/1

Stayed on gamely to score at Fontwell in October then reportedly burst blood vessel subsequent start and not seen since November. Handles quick ground and fairly weighted if fit enough on first start for over eight months.

Form: P/P2614-

Cruising Bye^p,t⁸⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 95

12/1

Veteran who won at Bangor 16 months ago for previous connections and shaped well in first three starts for current yard this winter, all on soft ground. Won quick ground five years ago and not out of it back from a break.

Form: 138322-

Thoonavolla^p¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: T H Weston| OR: 89| BF| CD

11/2

Won here over both hurdles and fences two years ago but pulled up on last three visits to this track, including last time out. Seems to be struggling and others make much more appeal.

Form: 86-P32P

Massinis Adventure³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: A J Whiting| OR: 87

66/1

Ex-Irish chaser who last won at Wexford in September. Fell at Bangor last time when in touch at 6th. Not without a chance if picking his hooves up this time and should be fine on the ground.

Form: 6/810-4F

Culm Counsellor^t1⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 81

12/1

5lb hgher than win over fences at Newton Abbot last summer. Also won a handicap hurdle at Stratford in October. Dropped 5lb following poor run at Warwick in May and runs with tongue-tie for the first time.

Form: 121P4-7

Irish Thistle¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 78

25/1

Winless since March 2016 and has come 40lb down the handicap since then. Clearly not the force of old and needs much more than recent efforts to get involved here.

Form: 64P6-34

Lord Aldervale²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: David Noonan| T: S Woodman| OR: 74

40/1

Front-running maiden without a win in 31 starts under Rules. Went close at Fontwell in November and is 2lb lower now after two poor subsequent efforts. Not out of it off light weight but more needed.

Form: P352-57

Free Return^b1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: T H Weston| OR: 70

50/1

Shown very little in eight starts under Rules and has pulled up last two outings. Races from 3lb out of the handicap and first time blinkers applied. Looks to face a very tough task.

Form: 0P56/P-P

Just Skittles²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Harper| OR: 51

150/1

Pulled up 2 out when well adrift latest start and looks to face a near impossible task from 22lb out of the handicap. Yet to reach a place in 12 starts under Rules.

Form: P6P/12P

Forecasts

Master Sunrise (6/4), Thoonavolla (11/2), Follow The Swallow (8/1), Midnight Gem (11/1), Ballycoe (11/1), Cruising Bye (12/1), Culm Counsellor (12/1), Orchestrated (16/1), Irish Thistle (25/1), Lord Aldervale (40/1), Free Return (50/1), Massinis Adventure (66/1), Just Skittles (150/1)

Many of these are struggling for form of late so ORCHESTRATED, who returns from an eight-month break, is a tentative choice having shown fair form prior to bursting a blood vessel. Master Sunrise has been handed top weight for his handicap bow and despite that has to be respected having run with credit on his last two starts in fair hunter chases. The first time tongue-tie may help Culm Counsellor show improved form, while old boy Cruising Bye may be thereabouts having settled in well at his latest yard.