15:40 Worcester

Thursday 12 October 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

FBC Manby Bowdler Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 5m 11.76s

Dave And Bernie^p,t⁸³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: O Signy| OR: 112WS

50/1

Fair 2m1f winner at his best but returns after over 2 years off here on the back of a wind op. Others are preferred on this occasion.

Form: 092235/

Bertie B²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 105

12/1

Debut bumper winner who posted a good third of 11 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, good to soft). Off 7 months since but not discounted.

Form: 1/6053-

Elogio^p1²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 107| BF

5/1

Debut bumper winner. Second on all his three runs over hurdles, latest at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 7 months ago. Up in trip with cheekpieces on 1st time for his handicap debut. Interesting.

Form: 1222-

Highlander Casseul^h1¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 105

14/1

Fair ex-Irish maiden hurdler. Below par fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle over C&D in May. Hooded for 1st time with more needed after a break.

Form: 7/86P3-4

Rare Clouds⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 103| D

13/2

Off 11 months before recording a good second of 10 in handicap hurdle over C&D 44 days ago. In the mix despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 12S44-2

Gavin^h,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 103

9/1

Completed a hat-trick at Ffos Las in June. Posted another solid effort when second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good) 33 days ago so he's firmly in the picture now up in trip.

Form: 125752

Gieves^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 101| C

15/2

9/1 and hooded for 1st time, career best when winning 2m novice hurdle here 24 days ago, always travelling strongly. Weighted to go well back in handicap company.

Form: 5U63-91

Steal My Sunshine^p¹⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 97| D

7/2

Improved in first-time cheekpieces to land 11-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) 145 days ago. That form is proving strong so he's not taken lightly despite an 8 lb hike in the weights.

Form: 5/4960-1

Best Mate Dave⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 92| CD

3/1

C&D winner in June who backed it up with an excellent second of 9 in handicap hurdle here (23f, good to soft) 44 days ago, clear of rest. Winner has gone in again so he's a player.

Form: 5/050-12

Versatility¹⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 90WS

33/1

Temperamental sort who has had breathing surgery since coming in a below form eighth of 14 in handicap chase at Chepstow (26.2f, good) 167 days ago. Thirteen runs since last win in 2020.

Form: 4/33PP8-

Forecasts

Best Mate Dave (3/1), Steal My Sunshine (7/2), Elogio (5/1), Rare Clouds (13/2), Gieves (15/2), Gavin (9/1), Bertie B (12/1), Highlander Casseul (14/1), Versatility (33/1), Dave And Bernie (50/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but C&D winner BEST MATE DAVE arrives on an upward curve and is taken to emerge on top from handily-weighted course scorer Gieves. Steal My Sunshine and Elogio both have plenty to recommend them too so need considering in a competitive event.