15:55 Worcester

Thursday 21 July 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Stepway Veterans Charity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 49.74s

Voodoo Doll^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Miss Eleanor Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 106| CD

9/1

Successful off 4 lb higher at Taunton during the autumn and appeared to be close to concert pitch when hitting the crossbar in 21f Ludlow handicap in May. Went without usual headgear when well held last time and cheekpieces swiftly refitted.

Form: 5524-36

Kuraka^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 105

9/2

Sole hurdles success was gained in a Limerick maiden for Gordon Elliott back in April 2018. Still, he wasn't disgraced starting out for this yard at Uttoxeter (2½m, good) last month and makes each-way appeal off a 3 lb lower mark here.

Form: 35345-5

Rare Clouds³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽³⁾| T: Simon Earle| OR: 105| D

6/1

Capitalised on a falling mark to open his account following a break/wind op at Southwell (20.4f, good) in May. Did little wrong when third to Presenting Pete (winner again since) over the same C&D next time and he's not discounted.

Form: 2345-13

Justified²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 104| BF

9/2

Fair stayer on Flat who opened his hurdles account in a seven-runner handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) in June. Performed to a similar level when third off this 5 lb higher mark at Stratford since and likely to give another good account.

Form: 432-413

Samos Island³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 104

33/1

Runner-up in a couple of points in May and surprise winner of a Huntingdon maiden (15.8f, good) on debut for new yard last month. However, well beaten both subsequent starts and he needs to get back on track.

Form: 622157

Inn The Bull³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 103| C

15/2

Fallen plenty in weights and he ran well when runner-up in an amateur jockey's handicap at Ludlow (21.2f, good) in May. Drop back to 2m counted against him here next time and he's one to consider.

Form: 487-425

Steady Away⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Claire Harris| OR: 98

28/1

Remains a maiden following 16 starts in this sphere and makes debut for new yard on the back of a couple of non-completions. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 3474-UU

Mise Raftaire⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: W Greatrex| OR: 94

9/2

Performed with credit on several occasions over hurdles for Anthony McCann in Ireland, not least when falling 2 out at Clonmel in March (held every chance at the time of his departure). Shaped better than distance beaten last time and possibilities on debut for new yard here.

Form: 0634F-6

Come Dancing⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| OR: 81| BF

4/1

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who left previous efforts well behind when finishing second at Plumpton (17.8f, good) on handicap debut in April. Not in the same form next time, but he's well worth another chance.

Form: 4/9P72-3

Non-Runners

George Bancroft³⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: C E Longsdon J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Come Dancing (4/1), Kuraka (9/2), Justified (9/2), Mise Raftaire (9/2), Rare Clouds (6/1), Inn The Bull (15/2), Voodoo Doll (9/1), George Bancroft (10/1), Steady Away (28/1), Samos Island (33/1)

Cases can be made for several of these. Marginal preference is for INN THE BULL, who found things happening too quickly over 2m here last time and is better judged on his solid effort off this mark at Ludlow in May. Irish-import Mise Raftaire is next on the list ahead of Come Dancing, while the likes of Justified, Kuraka and Rare Clouds all make each-way appeal.