18:50 Worcester

Tuesday 17 July 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

PP Control & Automation Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 5m 37.1s

Ennistown^t²⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135| C

16/1

Had lost his way a bit when last seen some 10 months ago and had been lightly raced so has clearly had some issues. Starts life today for a new yard that do well with recruits from elsewhere and is on a tempting mark so market check needed.

Form: 031F/P6-

Sky Pirate²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131| CD

11/8

Starting to repay some of his £150,000 price tag. Everything clicked nicely in to place when winning comfortably over C&D three weeks ago. Upped 8lbs for that win but every chance there is going to be plenty more to come and is a leading player.

Form: 1/123-31

Champagne Express⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

4/1

Having only his second start in two years when winning at Cheltenham in April off a 5lb lower mark. Another three month absence is a slight concern but he's still lightly raced and this if anything is a slightly weaker race. Market informative.

Form: 34PP/41-

Beneagles^v²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 126

11/2

Best effort so far this year when a close second of nine at Ffos Las (3m, good). Raised 2lbs for not winning which makes life a bit tougher. Can make mistakes and maybe one or two better handicapped.

Form: 5/3540-2

Good Tradition¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125

14/1

Everything clicked into place when stepping up in trip last time when drawing right away to win by some 27L. Been handed a 9lb rise in the weights for that but worth every ounce and impossible to say when the progress may stop. Sound claims.

Form: 413-221

Mr Mcguiness⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: C Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 124| C

12/1

Twice a winner round here and was in the process of running his best race for a while last time when making a bad mistake at the last and his rider lost his irons. No chance after that but a similar effort would see him in the mix.

Form: 4550P-5

Eureu Du Boulay^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 114

7/1

Improved with each run in Britain and went close to winning at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) two weeks ago. Raised 6lbs for not wining there makes life tougher but goes up in trip today which promises to suit.

Form: 1P5-662

Non-Runners

Lord Topper³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: Jamie Snowden J: Page Fuller

Forecasts

Sky Pirate (11/8), Champagne Express (4/1), Beneagles (11/2), Lord Topper (6/1), Eureu Du Boulay (7/1), Mr Mcguiness (12/1), Good Tradition (14/1), Ennistown (16/1)

Some in-form horses going head-to-head here and this should turn out to be a decent contest. Hard to know how Champagne Express will be as he's clearly had issues. This if anything is slightly weaker than the race he won at Cheltenham when last seen so can't be dismissed. Good Tradition and Lord Topper both won their last starts with such ease that they cannot be ruled out. Slight preference is for SKY PIRATE who had a hefty price tag and looks to have started to get to grips with his job. He won well over C&D last month and can go in again today.