20:40 Worcester

Friday 26 May 2023

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

Play With The Finest Bookmaker - Fitzdares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:41 | Winning time: 4m 1.23s

Bear A Hand²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R J Price| OR: 97

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who found some improvement when third of 10 on handicap hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago. Entitled to build on that.

Form: 0764-3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Royal Max²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 97

4/1

In top hands but hasn't achieved any better than modest form in 2 bumpers and a trio of hurdles. Still early days, though, and may do better now sent handicapping.

Form: 0/654-7

Boundsy Boy^b,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 94| D

3/1

Winner at Huntingdon (15.8f) in February and ran to similar level when creditable fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy,13/2) 20 days ago. Likely contender.

Form: 84F41-4

Luminaries¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 84

20/1

Offered very little in 4 starts thus far, latest on handicap debut at Hereford in January, and is hard to recommend.

Form: 9006-

Free Chakarte^b1⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 90| D

10/1

Fair on the Flat in France and scored on hurdles debut at Hexham in June. However, her form has tailed off and she has failed to complete on her last 3 starts. Blinkers now applied for first time.

Form: 245PPP-

Secret Potion^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 82| D

10/1

Went close on the Flat in November but failed to trouble the judge in a couple of outings in this sphere since. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 5P20/59-

Nordy Lordy¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 76

13/2

Winner of sole start between the flags and ran one of his better races in this sphere when fifth of 11 in handicap at Warwick (19f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Each-way player.

Form: 0780P-5

Bluebella^t1⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 73

5/1

No impact in 5 attempts over hurdles, including sent handicapping the last twice and returns to shorter trip now. Tongue strap on first time.

Form: 69P09-

Ghyll Manor^t¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 78

40/1

No show in 3 starts in juvenile hurdles late last year. Still, it wouldn't be the biggest of surprises were he to be seen in a better light now handicapping and market check advised.

Form: 30P-

Beat The Storm^p1,t⁵⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 71

80/1

Modest maiden on Flat for William Knight and offered nothing in a trio of hurdle runs for current yard in 2021-22. Back from 16-month absence and can only be watched on handicap debut. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 880/

Atlantic Breeze^t⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 75

40/1

Superbly bred but not gone on from his Flat debut (trained in Ireland), showing little in 3 races over hurdles for Nigel Hawke. Goes handicapping from basement mark now (2 lb out of the weights).

Form: P59-

Non-Runners

Ambassador⁷⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: M Keighley J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Boundsy Boy (3/1), Royal Max (4/1), Bluebella (5/1), Bear A Hand (5/1), Nordy Lordy (13/2), Free Chakarte (10/1), Secret Potion (10/1), Luminaries (20/1), Ambassador (20/1), Atlantic Breeze (40/1), Ghyll Manor (40/1), Beat The Storm (80/1)

ROYAL MAX remains open to improvement and could be a different proposition now sent handicapping. He gets the nod. Bear A Hand and Boundsy Boy look the likeliest dangers.