18:20 Worcester

Tuesday 29 August 2023

All16:4017:1517:4518:2018:5519:2519:55

Ann Hitchings Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 18:25 | Winning time: 5m 8.10s

Esperti²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 110

28/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler in Ireland for Peter Fahey but he has failed to fire in 3 outings for his yard. The season's leading jockey Sean Bowen takes the ride again but would need to see market support to consider.

Form: 133-678

Sea The Clouds²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 109

11/8

Bumper/2m novice hurdle winner last season. Best effort in handicaps this season when narrowly denied over C&D 4 weeks ago. Unlikely to be far away if showing up in similar form.

Form: 122-462

Aviewtosea^b,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 107| C

11/2

Three chase wins for Fergal O'Brien last summer. Second in 23f course chase in June but only a respectable fifth back hurdling at Uttoxeter last month on this first outing for this training partnership.

Form: 11-3245

Izayte²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 106

10/3

Winner of 2m Warwick handicap in May and creditable runner-up efforts at Uttoxeter and here (both 2m) on his last 2 starts. Should be thereabouts if his stamina holds stepping back up in trip.

Form: 6P-1822

Ragamuffin^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 105

14/1

Three-time chase winner last season but hasn't made an impact in 3 outings this term, including back hurdling latest.

Form: 212-755

Sholsang^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 103

100/1

Winning pointer. Second in maiden chase in Ireland for David Christie last May but didn't get close to that level in 5 subsequent starts over there and pulled up in a Uttoxeter handicap chase on last month's debut for a new yard. Cheekpieces refitted. Best watched unless the betting hints otherwise.

Form: 94090-P

Whiskey And Water^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: B Ellison| OR: 101

11/2

Runner-up at Newcastle when last seen over hurdles in spring 2021. Has shaped as if retaining ability on the Flat since returning from a long absence and Harry Cobden does the steering now back over timber in refitted cheekpieces. Needs keeping an eye on in the betting.

Form: 267P72/

Chasamax^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 93| C

100/1

Three-time winner in this sphere for Nicky Henderson but ended time with that yard below par and has continued in the same vein for current stable.

Form: 9587P0

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Oslo²⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Toronto²⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: Dr R D P Newland J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Sea The Clouds (11/8), Izayte (10/3), Oslo (5/1), Whiskey And Water (11/2), Aviewtosea (11/2), Ragamuffin (14/1), Toronto (14/1), Esperti (28/1), Chasamax (100/1), Sholsang (100/1)

OSLO shaped quite well on his recent return to action and is given a chance to confirm that promise. Sea The Clouds is feared most on the back of his near miss over C&D at the beginning of the month. Izayte is another who arrives in form, while Whiskey And Water is one to note in the betting back hurdling under Harry Cobden.