15:30 Worcester

Thursday 11 October 2018

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:0016:35

MintBet Bet 10 Get 10 Welcome Bonus Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 55.2s

Winter Spice^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 107

5/2

Only win in 24 starts came on the Flat at Nottingham more than four years ago but ran with credit over hurdles last time when third at Newton Abbot. Races off same mark but is clearly very hard to win with.

Form: 3263

Dun Scaith^h,t²⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 105| D

28/1

Fairly lightly raced over the last two years and hasn't won for some time. Unseated rider early on last time having shaped well in heavy ground time before. Probably better on this decent surface and looks one of the likelier sorts.

Form: 63502U-

Danceintothelight^t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

8/1

Tough old stick having his 125th career start and seeking his 11th win. Has looked in the grip of the handicapper of late though and surprise if 2lb drop is enough to see him back in the winners' enclosure.

Form: 445334

Shanroe Tic Tec¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B Pauling| OR: 105

7/1

No success in point-to-points or under Rules so far and hasn't shown enough in two starts this term over timber to suggest he is going to be a player from his falling mark.

Form: U35-409

Primogeniture^v⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 102WS

9/1

1m2f handicapper on the Flat but hasn't looked a natural over hurdles in seven attempts thus far. Returns following a wind op and has been dropped 3lb, so not a complete no-hoper if his breathing has improved.

Form: 4/3-355P

Sea's Aria³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: M R Hoad| OR: 101

14/1

Won twice from a lot of attempts in Ireland but yet to score since switching to this side of the water last December. Placed in his last two starts, (both at Fontwell) and is in decent nick, but will be a surprise if he proves good enough.

Form: 936423

Shanksforamillion²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 100| CD

14/1

Rattled up C&D hattrick last summer but lost his way in last three starts, pulling up on both outings so far this campaign, including back at this venue last time. Still 9lb higher than last win so on balance looks to have plenty on his plate.

Form: 1120-PP

Aquarian⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 97| BF

16/1

Formerly trained by Joseph O'Brien in Ireland for whom he ran seven times over hurdles without reaching even a place, although ran OK final outing. Makes new start for big yard but doesn't look obviously well handicapped.

Form: 77-0565

Vif Argent^h⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Alex Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 86| CD

4/1

Third over fences at Bangor last week and has a respectable strike rate over timber for a handicapper of 5-19, although last win came in selling hurdle back in 2015. Not out of it but needs to be at top of his game to score.

Form: 8/34303

Kublai¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 82

7/1

Only 2-31 over hurdles but very nearly made it three last time when failing by just neck to land the spoils at Market Rasen. 5lb rise looks a shade harsh and may just hold him back but he is in form.

Form: P78062

Mutoondresdashorse^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 81

50/1

Won a 7f Newbury maiden last May but has failed to reach even a place in eight attempts over hurdles. Fell early on in a seller at Newton Abbot recently and is hard to enthuse over.

Form: 75566F

Kahdian^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 68

50/1

30-race maiden who was running one of his better races when unseating rider 3 out over fences at Fontwell in August. Back over timber now and 11lb out of the handicap so looks very much up against it.

Form: 09/34-PU

Forecasts

Winter Spice (5/2), Vif Argent (4/1), Kublai (7/1), Shanroe Tic Tec (7/1), Danceintothelight (8/1), Primogeniture (9/1), Shanksforamillion (14/1), Sea's Aria (14/1), Aquarian (16/1), Dun Scaith (28/1), Kahdian (50/1), Mutoondresdashorse (50/1)

There are question marks hanging over each and every one of the runners in this handicap hurdle so DUN SCAITH is a tentative selection and has claims if running to the best of his ability. Winter Spice may prove a decent place bet but finds winning very hard indeed, while if a recent wind op has helped Primogeniture he wouldn't be without a chance of popping up at decent odds. Aquarian represents a top team and has been found a weak race but he'll need to improve on what he achieved in Ireland to score here - that's not out of the question though.