18:45 Worcester

Thursday 20 July 2023

All17:0517:4018:1018:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Ian Williams Racing Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 3m 56.30s

Rock On Harry¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 103| BF| D

13/2

Bumper winner who appears to be gradually progressing over hurdles, chasing home a big improver at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) last time. Mark for this handicap debut looks fair and he's an each-way player.

Form: 1/166-42

Turpin Gold¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R Stephens| OR: 99| D

7/1

Off the mark in a Stratford novice last September and posted his best effort since switched to handicaps when runner-up off 2 lb lower at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) recently. Should make his presence felt.

Form: 214-842

Rafiki¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 92| D

16/1

Bagged a Stratford novice for Alan King last June but it's been pretty much downhill all the way since.

Form: 2365-P7

Let It Shine³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 87

40/1

Poor in bumpers and hasn't showed a great deal in this sphere either, failing to improve on his handicap debut/first run following a wind op at Southwell last month.

Form: 8/8679-6

Ten Ten Twenty^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 86| CD

18/1

Wide-margin winner of a C&D maiden last August but has proved disappointing in handicaps since. Hopes pinned on the addition of cheekpieces (runner-up sole start on the Flat in this headgear) sparking a return to form.

Form: 74P0-76

Emanate^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 82

100/1

Poor maiden on the Flat and has failed to make much of an impact in 4 starts since switched to this sphere.

Form: 4-55P

Gambie Tiep⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Liam Harrison| T: B Pauling| OR: 80| D

2/5

Only poor hurdler/chaser for Sarah-Jayne Davies but has looked an entirely different proposition for this yard, scoring over fences at Uttoxeter and in this sphere at Perth during the last 9 days. Unpenalised for latest success (officially 8 lb well-in) and will prove hard to beat.

Form: 395P-11

Urabamba^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 77| D

16/1

Just one win from 23 starts and there wasn't enough in his latest effort at Newton Abbot to suggest his turn is near again. Engaged 2.40 Uttoxeter Wednesday.

Form: 633-445

Beautiful Surprise^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 72

80/1

Fair handicapper on the Flat and bettered previous hurdles efforts when fifth in a 10-runner C&D handicap last time. However, she's 9 lb 'wrong' at the weights this time.

Form: U66-7U5

Non-Runners

Glimpse Of Gold³⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 12

T: Mrs S J Humphrey J: Jay Tidball

Forecasts

Gambie Tiep (2/5), Rock On Harry (13/2), Turpin Gold (7/1), Urabamba (16/1), Rafiki (16/1), Glimpse Of Gold (16/1), Ten Ten Twenty (18/1), Let It Shine (40/1), Beautiful Surprise (80/1), Emanate (100/1)

While it's likely that GAMBIE TIEP's best days ahead will be over fences, he is nevertheless hard to oppose here on the back of his recent dominant, all-the-way success in this sphere at Perth. The 7-y-o will be competing off an 8 lb higher mark in the future, so it's no surprise that connections are looking to strike while the iron is hot. Turpin Gold and Rock On Harry can fill the places.