17:00 Worcester

Monday 9 July 2018

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

R & A Mason Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 5m 47.60s

Shadarpour^v⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 102

50/1

Formerly a fair hurdler when with Alan King but form deteriorated and there hasn't been much sign of a revival in four starts for new connections. Down in grade but looks a risky proposition.

Form: 5090/8-P

Balkinstown^t,v¹⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr C Dowson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 95| CD

2/1

Only win in 26 starts over hurdles came over this C&D last July off a mark of 95. Returns to that rating now and better ground should help so an improved display looks very much on the cards.

Form: 433360-

Seven Nation Army^p⁴⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

16/1

0-17 over hurdles but placed nine times. Form has slumped last two seasons and now 27lb than October 2016 and still there is little sign of him troubling the judge.

Form: 4337/33-

Howlongisafoot^v²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 91| D

15/8

Runner-up at Fontwell on two most recent outings is fair form in the context of this event so has prospects of geting involved where it matters most. Shouldn't be far away.

Form: 5PP6-22

Persistantprincess¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 91

12/1

Won 3m maiden point-to-point last month but dropped away very tamely when distant four at Ffos Las on hurdles bow last time out. Much more needed.

Form: 23-2214

Dry Ol'party¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow| OR: 87

16/1

Trip is a pit of a poser having won twice for former handler Phliip Hobbs at up to 2m2f. Beaten some way out over 2m4f last time so has to rate a doubtful stayer at this distance.

Form: 3286/79

Welcome Polly¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 87| BF

9/1

One of the lesser lights of this top yard, she has been well beaten in both starts for current connections having formerly been trained by Charlie Mann. Has little to recommend her on evidence so far.

Form: 06PP-68

Definite Winner^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: Katy Price| OR: 78

20/1

Beaten in six bumpers for Gordon Elliott and hasn't shown much over hurdles since joining current yard in December. Not one to get too excited about.

Form: 07P-098

Eddies Pearl³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: B Forsey| OR: 77

40/1

Won a point in May 2017 but has only poor form to her name for current handler in four starts since switching to race under Rules. Up against it once again.

Form: 3/1006-P

Starlit Night²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 74

20/1

Scrambled home over similar trip at Stratford last August but has been bitterly disappointing in all starts since then. Dropping down the weights but hasn't done anything of late to inspire confidence.

Form: 100P-80

Morning Sequel^p1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 67

25/1

Yet to reach a place under either code and it looks odds-on to be more of the same on this occasion even allowing for the first time cheekpieces sparking a little improvement.

Form: 745-0

Forecasts

Howlongisafoot (15/8), Balkinstown (2/1), Welcome Polly (9/1), Persistantprincess (12/1), Dry Ol'party (16/1), Seven Nation Army (16/1), Starlit Night (20/1), Definite Winner (20/1), Morning Sequel (25/1), Eddies Pearl (40/1), Shadarpour (50/1)

Quite a lot of dead wood in this event so previous course and distance winner BALKINSTOWN is the call with improvement expected on this faster surface. Top wieght Shadarpour would have wiped the floor with this lot a few years ago but hasn't been running well for some time. This is an easier task though. Howlongisafoot is the other who could be expected to get involved in the action, while Welcome Polly deserves a glance, if only for the fact that she hails from a top yard.