18:00 Worcester

Wednesday 22 August 2018

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Icebath Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 4m 51.1s

Theatrebar^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| BF| C| D

11/1

Backed up a good Market Rasen run (2nd) with a win here over a longer trip in May before he found his good run of form coming to a halt on his last start. Reported to have bled on that occasion he's now down in trip back in action.

Form: 63-2126

Psychedelic Rock^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 133| CD

7/2

Returned refreshed and looking in good form when pushing in-form winner close over C&D in June off a 1lb lower mark. Looked as though he failed to stay stepped up to 2m7f last time and will be more at home over this trip.

Form: 6126-24

Forever Field⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| CD

10/1

In decent form for much of last summer over fences although his efforts gradually tailed off when he was tried in handicaps off tough looking marks. Would have needed the run last time over fences and now back over hurdles; faces a stiff mark.

Form: 21287-6

Tempestatefloresco^b,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130| D

11/1

Has some fair/decent performances in him but is rather inconsistent and runs the odd stinker. Ran respectably enough last time back in this sphere with blinkers on for the first-time (retained); off a good mark over hurdles.

Form: 10P-453

Comanche Chieftain²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King| OR: 130

9/1

Taken a while to get the hang of things over fences finally scoring last time when making all at Stratford (jumped well). Looks to have a better attitude now but 10lb higher returned to hurdling and this looks a tough test.

Form: 0-24621

Melody Of Scotland³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 128

5/1

Winner in France on her second hurdles start she caught the eye on her GB debut offering plenty to work on before disappointing last time out at Stratford. Hard to write her off on the back of one outing; watch for market support.

Form: 2/1-33

Mr Mcguiness²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 125| CD

13/2

Tends to run well over this style of hurdle (fixed brush) and has twice won here but off much lower marks. Proved himself capable off this mark when returning from a break and raced over further here in June; hard to ignore.

Form: 50P-552

Ocean Jive³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 122

7/2

Rated as high as 92 on the Flat when with Brian Meehan he was a debut winner over hurdles in novice company for this yard and has run well in all his handicap starts. Upped in trip now he might just lack the experience for a race such as this.

Form: 1-326

Forecasts

Psychedelic Rock (7/2), Ocean Jive (7/2), Melody Of Scotland (5/1), Mr Mcguiness (13/2), Comanche Chieftain (9/1), Forever Field (10/1), Theatrebar (11/1), Tempestatefloresco (11/1)

A wide-open event with a plethora of options and although Melody Of Scotland was disappointing last time she could be given a chance to make amends here. Mr McGuiness is always to be feared over the fixed brush hurdles around here but this mark may just be beyond him and Theatrebar should enjoy this sounder surface to operate off. PSYCHEDELIC ROCK will be far more at home over this trip though that the near 3m one he tackled last time and the form he showed here in June would be good enough to take this if repeated.