16:45 Worcester

Sunday 2 September 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Carpet Gallop Supporting Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 31.70s

L'Attesa^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 102

100/1

Now 2lb below last winning hurdles mark although that was 18 months ago for his previous trainer. Struggled twice on the flat over very different trips this year with a chase last in between and tough to fancy now.

Form: 7586P-8

Western Storm^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 101

9/4

Shot clear over C&D latest and looked to have the race in safe keeping until one came out of the pack to collar him late on. Raised 4lb for that positive effort but another bold bid is expected.

Form: 9P4/652

Shadarpour^v⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 99

20/1

Weakened over C&D latest and for all he has campaigned largely at this sort of trip 2m2½f remains the furthest he's won over. Champion jockey attempts to end the near four year losing streak.

Form: 090/8-P4

Balkinstown^t,v³⁸

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

4/1

Back-to-back C&D seconds this summer including latest when he was held up an absolute mile back before running on forlornly. Hopefully remain in touch here early on and big player if doing so.

Form: 3360-22

Coisa Blanco¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 93

7/2

Eight race maiden not really made the sort of progress you would like and fell three out at Southwell in most recent start. Enough question marks to look elsewhere.

Form: 5-3P65F

Burgess View^b³⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 93

50/1

Maiden under rules jumped poorly at Fontwell latest and finished completely tailed off. Pulled up here the time before too and very hard to fancy now.

Form: 2/332P5-

The Last Melon¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: J Bennett| OR: 91

20/1

Yet to make the frame in five hurdle starts to date and now tries another new trip. Handicap always falling but still probably beyond him on recent evidence.

Form: 75/5775

Rubys Cube¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 85

11/1

Left previous poor form behind when second over C&D last time out at 40/1. May be a sign she's turned the corner and with that promise in mind she must be considered here.

Form: 46F-0P2

Tir Dubh^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 83| CD

12/1

Pulled up latest which was disappointing after seconds over C&D and at Bangor over the same trip. Beaten a long way from home latest which leaves major question marks here.

Form: 4-6733P

Robin De Broome^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: B Barr| OR: 81

5/1

Maiden stayed on for second here over 2m4f two starts back but less encouraging latest when beaten 27L at Southwell. Balance of form suggests looking elsewhere the wisest course of action.

Form: 50-8024

Kilcaragh Boy^h¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 76

50/1

In rear when falling here three runs back and tailed off in both subsequent starts so very difficult to fancy him.

Form: 0-07F86

Forecasts

Western Storm (9/4), Coisa Blanco (7/2), Balkinstown (4/1), Robin De Broome (5/1), Rubys Cube (11/1), Tir Dubh (12/1), The Last Melon (20/1), Shadarpour (20/1), Kilcaragh Boy (50/1), Burgess View (50/1), L'Attesa (100/1)

WESTERN STORM looked to have the race in safe keeping here latest but he was denied late on. A repeat of that here ought to be enough and he gets the vote. Balkinstown also ran well over C&D latest and rates the biggest danger although he must lie closer to the pace today. Rubys Cube ran her best race to date over C&D latest and enters the equation too.