18:45 Worcester

Friday 23 April 2021

All16:0516:3517:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Dan Skelton Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 5m 48.9s

Butler's Brief³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 109

8/1

Opened his account in 2m5f handicap hurdle at Warwick in December and arrives here having not been disgraced when fourth of 7 at Doncaster (24.3f) in March. Does need to brush his jumping up, though.

Form: 2P-2144

Monition²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 108

66/1

Long-standing maiden in Ireland who, on the back of 20 months off shaped as though retaining ability when fifth of 12 at Ludlow (21f) in March. Now his task is to build on that effort.

Form: 32S60-5

Printing Dollars^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 108| D

18/1

Fairly useful hurdler at her best but not seeing her races out this term, weakening approaching the turn when well held fourth at Plumpton (20.5f) 18 days ago. Mark continues to ease.

Form: 644784

Cristal Spirit⁹⁹

18/1

Right back on track over hurdles when registering victories at Fontwell/Plumpton earlier this season. Seemingly not 100% when pulled up at first named venue in January but undergone wind op since.

Form: 60811P

Three Colours Red^p,t¹³²

50/1

Didn't take to fences in summer 2019 and pulled up back hurdling following a lengthy absence both starts this winter. Undergone wind surgery ahead of this and betting may prove a useful guide.

Form: 1446-P7

Rare Clouds³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Simon Earle| OR: 106

16/1

Fair maiden hurdler for Sue Smith who shaped as if retaining his ability on the back of 13 months off when third at Haydock (3m) for new yard in March. Possible he'll strip fitter for that run.

Form: 43P52-3

Presentedwithwings^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 106

40/1

All the better for his reappearance when making a winning hurdling debut at Hereford in November but needs to shrug off some lesser efforts more recently, well held fifth of 5 at Carlisle in March.

Form: 414055

Shanroe Tic Tec^b¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 104

12/1

Over 2 years since he last hit the target, but several good efforts to his name this term, again hitting the frame when third in 10-runner Huntingdon handicap (20.6f) 11 days ago. Should go well again

Form: 523423

Frankincense^b¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss H C Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 104| BF

11/1

Off the mark at Exeter (16.8f) in November and hit the frame on 4 of 5 starts since, finishing with running left when 1.5 lengths third of 9 over 23f 17 days ago. Good showing anticipated.

Form: 12P433

La Reine Poutine^t1⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 103

8/1

Promise when placed in a brace of bumpers. Yet to translate that form to hurdles but took a step forward when third on Plumpton handicap debut and could do better again now upped further in trip.

Form: 23-4743

Belatrix Lestrange¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 102| BF

12/1

Improved for the step up to 3m, winning a pair of Ludlow handicaps. Failed in her hat-trick bid when behind Tipalong Tyler at Doncaster, but retains potential back from a break.

Form: 783116

Final List^b⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 102

50/1

Bought cheaply during second half of last year but not offered much despite a tumbling mark. Blinkers again the headgear of choice.

Form: 604PP9

Liffeydale Dreamer^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 101| BF

33/1

Flat/hurdles winner who looked rusty on the back of 4 months off when second of 4 over fences at Sedgefield (21f) 2 weeks ago. Is entitled to be sharper with that under his belt.

Form: 7343P2

Montanna^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 101

16/1

Dual 20f hurdle winner in 2018. Lightly raced since and best effort of this campaign when fourth of 13 at Ffos Las (20f) at the start of the month. Fallen plenty in weights but task is to back that up

Form: 8P-0604

Janeymac^p¹⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 100

40/1

Ex-Irish winning chaser who shaped better than distance beaten suggest back hurdling in first-time cheekpeices when sixth in 20f Sedgefield handicap in November. Returns with yard amongst the winners.

Form: 080-1P6

Dan Gun⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 92

11/10

Resurgent upon joining this stable, capitalising on reduced mark to land handicaps at Stratford/Bangor in recent weeks. No surprise to see him out under a penalty and serious claims in hat-trick bid.

Form: 730911

Non-Runners

Faint Hope¹²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: G Harris J: Jordan Nailor

Three Ways²⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: Jamie Snowden J: Alexander Thorne

Forecasts

Dan Gun (11/10), Faint Hope (7/1), Butler's Brief (8/1), La Reine Poutine (8/1), Frankincense (11/1), Shanroe Tic Tec (12/1), Belatrix Lestrange (12/1), Montanna (16/1), Rare Clouds (16/1), Printing Dollars (18/1), Cristal Spirit (18/1), Three Ways (25/1), Liffeydale Dreamer (33/1), Presentedwithwings (40/1), Janeymac (40/1), Three Colours Red (50/1), Final List (50/1), Monition (66/1)

DAN GUN has looked resurgent upon joining Dan Skelton, successful at Stratford prior to posting a career-best display when bolting up at Bangor 6 days ago. He looks sure to go well again under a penalty and can complete the hat-trick. Faint Hope who ran up to his best when second at Warwick recently, Shanroe Tic Tec and La Reine Poutine head up the dangers.