17:55 Worcester

Thursday 26 July 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:2017:55

Please Support Marie Curie Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 5m 53.53s

Victor Leudorum^t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Peter Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 100| CD

33/1

Took his last two races when with Charlie Mann back in the summer of 2016 but only lightly raced since and has shown little for his current connections. Looks best watched given his recent starts.

Form: 1P/85PP

Howlongisafoot^v¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 99| CD

7/2

Back to winning way over C&D this month, defeating the re-opposing Balkinstown by 6L on good to firm ground. Should give another positive account.

Form: PP6-221

Walk Waterford²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 99

22/1

No impact in handicaps for Jonjo O'Neill last summer and not yet hinted that better is to come for new handler in his one run. Entitled to have needed the run at Cartmel and was supported in betting, trainer can likely improve fortunes in time.

Form: P8223-8

Balkinstown^t,v¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr C Dowson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 98| CD

4/1

Only win in 27 starts over hurdles came over this C&D last July off a mark of 95. Returned from a break to be 6L second to Howlongisafoot here this month, fitter now and 5lb better terms with re-opposing rival if building on that run.

Form: 33360-2

Polo The Mumm^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss H Welch⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 97| C

9/1

Former course winner, given plenty to do and might have needed the run on reappearance this month at Newton Abbot, no shock to see a better effort this time.

Form: 3/346P-6

Coisa Blanco^p1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr James King| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96

12/1

Promising handicap debut when finishing 2L third over C&D in May, needs to put pair of lesser efforts behind him now however. Cheekpieces tried this time.

Form: 685-3P6

High Counsel⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 95| D

20/1

Still looks nicely handicapped on point-to-point form, and was a winner under Rules at Hereford in November. May have needed reappearance at Uttoxeter last month.

Form: 12421-P

Flamingo Lane^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 92

40/1

Seven-race maiden, first start for this yard when eased home over fences at Uttoxeter this month. All to prove on previous hurdles form.

Form: 0080R-7

Dites Rien⁴⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 92| BF

20/1

Has a 14-month absence to overcome but 2017 placed form makes him interesting. One to note in the betting.

Form: 45733/3-

Maratt⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Matthew Fielding⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 88

40/1

Limited signs of ability in six outings to date, including last month's handicap bow at Newton Abbot. Plenty more needed to be competitive.

Form: 004F-78

Kilcaragh Boy^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Milo Herbert⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 87

100/1

Sole success in 30 career starts came on the Flat in 2016, couple of heavy defeats at Stratford precede this outing and hard to be confident.

Form: 0500-07

Little Windmill^p,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 85| D

10/1

Finished third of eight over fences at Cartmel last month, rated lower over these obstacles so certainly no forlorn hope. Is a temperamental sort however.

Form: 2P5-643

Phoenix Rock^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 77

6/1

Maiden, more encouraging efforts of late and finished fourth of 11 over this C&D last time out. First-time cheekpieces could see her find more now.

Form: 0090-44

Rock N'stones^v¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss E Todd| T: G Boanas| OR: 74

25/1

Now a maiden after 23 starts and easy to pass over for win purposes having flopped last time over fences at Uttoxeter.

Form: 6-5263P

Taken By Force^t1¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: T H Weston| OR: 74

6/1

Tale of woe so far, well beaten on most starts and although the yard can land the odd gamble in races such as this, it's hard to see where the necessary improvement is coming from despite tongue-tie being added.

Form: 60P4PP-

Forecasts

Howlongisafoot (7/2), Balkinstown (4/1), Taken By Force (6/1), Phoenix Rock (6/1), Polo The Mumm (9/1), Little Windmill (10/1), Coisa Blanco (12/1), Dites Rien (20/1), High Counsel (20/1), Walk Waterford (22/1), Rock N'stones (25/1), Victor Leudorum (33/1), Flamingo Lane (40/1), Maratt (40/1), Kilcaragh Boy (100/1)

HOWLONGISAFOOT has been rejuvenated lately by going back over hurdles and scored with a good deal of authority over C&D when stepped back up in trip last time. Despite the ratings increase for that win, he's still got a strong case in his favour on his best form and the nine-year-old will take halting if in the same mood now. Balkinstown chased him home and could cut down the 6L deficit on better terms here while Polo The Mumm should be fitter for the reappearance run at Newton Abbot. Olly Murphy should improve the fortunes of Walk Waterford, who also has the benefit of Alex Ferguson on board in this finale.