20:25 Worcester

Thursday 20 July 2023

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

eventmasters.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 5m 5.30s

Genever Dragon^b³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100

7/1

Ended long losing run at Kelso (18f) in September and signed off last term with a good second at Sedgefield (19.8f) later that month. Did best of those ridden close up when third on return at Stratford 30 days ago and he's one to note on the back of that here.

Form: 62312-3

Achnamara^b1,t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: H Fry| OR: 95

4/1

Useful 14f winner on Flat in 2022 for Charlie & Mark Johnston. Low-key efforts in trio of juvenile hurdles upon joining new yard last season and no real encouragement to glean from his run in last month's Ascot Stakes. Does at least now get a crack at handicaps in this sphere. Blinkered.

Form: 567-

Ranco^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 88| BF

3/1

Capitalised on easing mark when making winning stable debut at Newton Abbot (16.7f) 12 months ago and largely acquitted himself well from inflated mark thereafter last year. Better for return when fourth back at that venue 23 days ago and considered in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 3433-74

Dirk Gently^p,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 85

11/1

Offered little in bumpers/maiden hurdles but possibly did a little too much too soon when third on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (20f) in June, left behind from 2 out. Has since left Fergal O'Brien and he needs to pull out more here. Cheekpieces replace visor.

Form: 86PP3-3

Boomtime Banker⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 81| CD

6/1

Returned from a long absence an improved model, winning handicaps over C&D/Plumpton last summer. Easy to back and finished well held back from 8 months off at Southwell (20.4f) in May, however.

Form: 006/11-9

Only Fools^h,t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 83

10/3

Fair Flat winner in France. Better signs over hurdles since handicapping, best effort yet when again finishing runner-up over 2m here last month. Should give another good account now tackling this longer trip.

Form: 565-522

Nowyouvebinandunit^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 74

10/1

6-y-o mare who offered more than previously over hurdles 9from 2 lb out of weights) when third in a 7-runner Ffos Las handicap (20f) 6 weeks ago. Remains relatively early days with her and she's an each-way player with a repeat.

Form: U799-63

Emberscombe⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 70

14/1

Down the field in a bumper/trio of novice hurdles. Easy to back and no upturn in handicaps so far this season, eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f) 6 weeks ago. Much more needed from out of the weights.

Form: 00/03-98

Chain Smoker^b²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 64

66/1

His sole win came over fences in 2020 and he's not been threatening in that sphere in recent months. Hard to warm to operating from long way out of the weights back over smaller obstacles.

Form: PP-5646

Non-Runners

Blazing Court¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: M Keighley J: S Bowen

Jacks Orchard¹³²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Dr R D P Newland J: Charlie Hammond

Ulysses¹⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: D Shaw J: James Davies

Forecasts

Ranco (3/1), Only Fools (10/3), Achnamara (4/1), Boomtime Banker (6/1), Genever Dragon (7/1), Jacks Orchard (8/1), Nowyouvebinandunit (10/1), Blazing Court (10/1), Dirk Gently (11/1), Emberscombe (14/1), Chain Smoker (66/1), Ulysses (66/1)

RANCO took a step forward from his reappearance effort when fourth at Newton Abbot 23 days ago and having eased further in the weights, he could be worth chancing to come out on top with the cheekpieces refitted now. Genever Dragon returned with a good second at Stratford recently and is feared, along with 4-y-o Only Fools. Jacks Orchard is another to note.