17:30 Worcester

Tuesday 26 July 2022

All17:3018:0018:3019:0519:4020:1020:45

Martin Keighley Racing Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 3m 58.94s

Chess Player³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 98| BF

4/1

Long-standing maide, but has found just one too good on three of his last four starts over hurdles. Likely to have a say in the finish here if he takes to fences at the first attempt.

Form: 6F2-622

Boston Joe^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 97| D

8/1

Left chase debut form well behind when scoring at Ffos Las in May. Followed up at Stratford next time and, though well held back hurdling on his latest start, he's worth a second look returned to this sphere.

Form: 57-3110

Gouet Des Bruyeres^p1,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 95| CD

12/1

Has proved expensive to follow since scoring over this C&D in September, and ran no sort of a race back here last time. On the upside, his mark is on the slide and he'll be a threat if the refitted cheekpieces have the desired effect.

Form: 352-22P

Mister Allegro^b,t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 102| D

16/1

Back-to-back winner over hurdles in October. Form subsequently nosedived, but may well have been placed but for unseating rider 2 out on recent chase debut at Newton Abbot (21f, good). Each-way claims granted a clear round.

Form: 85-555U

Annie Nail¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Philip Armson⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 87

10/3

Got the better of dual subsequent winner On Springs when opening chase account at Fontwell last month. Wasn't seen to best effect when third here (2½m, good) recently and she remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 9P75-13

Ben Buie^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley| OR: 85| D

6/1

Scored twice off higher marks during the winter and shaped as though he could be working his way back to form when third of nine at Stratford (17f, good). Possibilities here if able to build on that.

Form: 3-56373

Kepy Blanc³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 84

5/1

Regressive hurdler who doesn't make much appeal now switched to fences.

Form: 45-8686

Pittsburg^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: R Potter| OR: 82

20/1

Hit the target over hurdles at Catterick in December, but form has dipped badly since and probably best watched on his first attempt in this sphere.

Form: P15P-90

White Turf^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 81

15/2

Placed six times over hurdles in spring/summer 2021. Best effort since returning from a break when third in 2m handicap hurdle here last month, but that will need improving upon if he's to play a leading role now switched to fences.

Form: 422-584

Forecasts

Annie Nail (10/3), Chess Player (4/1), Kepy Blanc (5/1), Ben Buie (6/1), White Turf (15/2), Boston Joe (8/1), Gouet Des Bruyeres (12/1), Mister Allegro (16/1), Pittsburg (20/1)

This drop back in trip could be a good thing where ANNIE NAIL's concerned and, with the best surely yet to come from this 5-y-o over fences, she earns the vote, Ben Buie is bound to have been well-prepared for this assignment and he is feared most off a dangerous mark. Chess Player will also be a threat if his jumping passes the test on debut in this sphere, while Mister Allegro is another to consider.