18:10 Worcester

Friday 24 May 2019

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Amodil Group Stainless Steel Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 4m 8.20s

Nikki Steel^v1¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-8| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 112| D

9/4

Built on an encouraging chase debut when scoring at Market Rasen after a break in March; likely to have been found out by the trip and rise in class in two starts since. Drop back in both of those spheres now with a visor on for the first-time.

Form: 22314-3

Ortenzia^b³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 102| D

33/1

Never managed to build on a successful start over fences last year producing a real mixed bag of efforts since (pulled up in first-time cheekpieces last time). Should prove more effective back over this 2m; not one to have total confidence in.

Form: 13U74-P

Un Beau Roman^h⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 102| D

9/1

His third at Newton Abbot last time (2m5f) just added to a long losing run and he's starting to look more and more unreliable despite a rapidly falling mark. Not run at this trip for a while but looks to be lacking enthusiasm of late.

Form: P2434-3

Beallandendall⁶⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: D Faulkner| OR: 100| D

12/1

Back-to-back winner over 2m at Chepstow early last year in softer conditions than he'll face here. Still 4lb above his last winning mark and failed to complete in three of his last four starts (pulled up last two); something to prove.

Form: 22F3PP-

Filemon^t¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 98

12/1

Threatened to come good over fences and hurdles late last year but never fulfilled that promise he showed in both spheres. Testing conditions may have been to blame for a poor effort when last seen; returns to fences (not the best of jumpers).

Form: 9/U353P-

Istimraar^p,t⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 82| BF| D

4/5

Just the sort that this yard specialise in rejuvenating (won three of his last four starts); returns to fences after overcoming a pace bias to win over hurdles at Market Rasen. Back over fences; still looks extremely well weighted on recent exploits.

Form: 09/1-121

No No Cardinal^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 81| D

20/1

Course regular but has only been placed once here although he did look back to near his best when taking a weak Plumpton handicap last time. Now up 7lb in a far better race and will do well to match that performance.

Form: FP7421-

Triggywinkle^b,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: L Hurley| OR: 67| D

100/1

Has to operate from 9lb out of the handicap which is far from ideal but more importantly has shown little worthwhile form of late. Fared poorly when put back over fences last time; would be a major shock if she could win this.

Form: 3/P06-P4

Forecasts

Istimraar (4/5), Nikki Steel (9/4), Un Beau Roman (9/1), Beallandendall (12/1), Filemon (12/1), No No Cardinal (20/1), Ortenzia (33/1), Triggywinkle (100/1)

All of these look to be fighting a losing battle with the very well-handicapped ISTIMRAAR who returns to fences off a 7lb lower mark than he was successful off over hurdles last time at Market Rasen. He’s due to rise 12lb in the handicap in the near future so connections will be keen to strike again quickly. Nikki Steel offers the best alternative with the drop in class and distance to his advantage as the visor is tried on him for the first time. No No Cardinal is at least a recent winner and looks to be good enough to take the minor berth in a race that lacks depth.