19:05 Worcester

Tuesday 1 August 2023

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

Don't Wait Check Your Prostate Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 4m 53.6s

Astromachia³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117| BF

11/4

Useful handicapper on Flat and already a dual hurdles winner. Posted another good effort when third of 8 in handicap at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good) 30 days ago. Can go well again.

Form: 1441-33

Esperti¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 115

50/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler in Ireland for Peter Fahey but he has failed to fire in two runs for his current yard, having a wind op before beating only one over C&D 12 days ago. Has something to prove.

Form: 2133-67

Northern Bound^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 113| CD

4/1

Three-time chase winner last season who comes here on the back of a creditable fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Market Rasen 39 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up once more back in this sphere.

Form: 121U-65

Watergrange Jack³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| D

4/1

Opened his hurdles account at Ffos Las last June but in and out since, refusing to race once too. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 035-R25

Baileys Derbyday^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 112| C

28/1

Fair 14f winner on Flat who got off the mark over hurdles in 2m maiden here in June. Only seventh in novice here since though so needs to bounce back now going into handicaps.

Form: 5817

Peace Of Rome⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 108

20/1

Fair in bumpers and showed similar form over hurdles for Nicky Henderson. Changed hands for £31,000 but beat only one on yard debut in handicap hurdle here (16f, soft) 5 days ago. Back up in trip with work to do.

Form: 2347-46

Wee Willie Nail^t⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: R C Harper| OR: 107

125/1

Won Gowran maiden on final start for Gordon Elliott in September but has failed to complete all 3 starts for new connections (pulled up on each occasion). Has plenty to prove.

Form: 241PP-P

Sea The Clouds⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 106| BF

5/1

Fair 2m bumper/hurdles winner last season. 11/4, failed to build on reappearance when sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle here (16f, good) 41 days ago. Up in trip with lots more required.

Form: 1122-46

The Height Of Fame^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 104

4/1

Prolific winner last season who resumed from 5 months off with a good second of 5 in handicap hurdle (5/2) at Newton Abbot (21.6f) 25 days ago. Big shout off an unchanged mark.

Form: 11140-2

College Oak³⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: William Featherstone⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 104| D

20/1

Scored at Stratford (2m6f) in 2022 but off for 11 months since coming in last of 4 in handicap there. Has won off a break before though so can't be discounted off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 3/62164-

Non-Runners

Bon Retour⁶¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Astromachia (11/4), Watergrange Jack (4/1), The Height Of Fame (4/1), Northern Bound (4/1), Sea The Clouds (5/1), College Oak (20/1), Peace Of Rome (20/1), Bon Retour (25/1), Baileys Derbyday (28/1), Esperti (50/1), Wee Willie Nail (125/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but THE HEIGHT OF FAME made a promising return when runner-up at Newton Abbot and is taken to go one better off an unchanged mark. In-form top-weight Astromachia heads the list of dangers, with Jamie Snowden's pair College Oak and Sea The Clouds also in the mix.