16:50 Worcester

Monday 8 July 2024

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5017:25

AK Bets Best Price Euro 2024 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 57.75s

Ascension Day^t1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: S Lycett| OR: 105

15/2

Lightly-raced maiden who has improved switched to handicaps the last twice, going close at Southwell and this course (both at around 2m on good/good to soft). Moving back up in trip shouldn't be an issue and another bold show likely in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: R932-22

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Fricotin^p1,t¹⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105

66/1

A fairly useful hurdles/chase winner for Francois Nicolle in 2022 but he hasn't shown much in 3 starts for present yard. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 556/P6P-

Chatty Chich³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 105

10/3

Has improved since switched to handicaps and faced with a stiffer test, scoring on good ground at Huntingdon (25f) and Fakenham (23.4f) on her last 2 starts. 5 lb rise for latest success looks fair and this progressive hat-trick seeker will have every chance if coping with this drop in trip.

Form: 6792-11

Toronet¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 105

28/1

Winner of a French claiming hurdle last February (subsequently claimed from Julien Phelippon for €19,999). Creditable efforts in Uttoxeter and Hereford handicaps (both at around this trip) earlier in the year but improvement will be needed if he's to emerge on top here.

Form: 61/7434-

Kayf Legend³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 102

14/1

Struck at the second attempt over hurdles at Lingfield (2m, good) last February but his efforts since returning from over a year off in March have not been at all inspiring.

Form: 561P/9-8

I Shut That D'or^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 102

28/1

Belied odds of 50/1 when taking a Wincanton novice hurdle in January 2023 but it's hard to know what to expect of him back in this sphere following an unsuccessful stint over fences.

Form: UPPP3-P

Mactavish^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 101| CD

3/1

Recorded back-to-back wins at Hereford (both at 21.7f) last year and back on the scoresheet when making all over this C&D (good) recently. 6 lb rise will ask a question of him but he will be a threat if in a similar mood.

Form: 132-241

Esperti²⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 100

40/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler in Ireland for Peter Fahey but he has failed to fire in 5 outings for this yard.

Form: 3/678PP-

A Tickatickatiming⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 100

10/1

Fair bumper winner and matched that level over hurdles when holding on gamely for success in 2m mares' maiden at this Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in November. Ultimately paid the price for pressing on too hard too far out back there over 20.5f last time and she's by no means discounted.

Form: 53123-4

Omega^b⁵²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: H Dickin| OR: 99

33/1

Three-time winner on the Flat in Germany and made a winning hurdles bow in France back in March 2022. Comfortably held both starts for new yard in recent months and 17-month absence to overcome but booking of Harry Cobden catches the eye and it'll be interesting to how he fares in the betting.

Form: 16956/

Fabreze³²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 91| DWS

22/1

Benefited from a more positive ride (equipped with cheekpieces) when clear-cut winner of a 2½m mares' handicap at Uttoxeter last June. Safely held all 3 subsequent starts and needs to get back on track for new yard following a wind op/10 month absence.

Form: 641488-

Danny's Friend³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: David Dennis| OR: 91

22/1

Appeared to take a step forward when fourth of 11 at Stratford on the third of his 3 starts in maiden hurdles. However, improvement was not forthcoming on subsequent handicap debut at Ffos Las (15.8f, good) and he has switched yards since.

Form: 98-49

Robber's Bridge⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 87

6/1

Winner of just one of his 17 starts over hurdles but he's been in good form in recent months, again finding just one too good in a 15-runner Ffos Las handicap (2½m, good) last time. Hard to grumble with a 2 lb nudge and this 6-y-o should be competitive once more.

Form: 63212-2

Emanate^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 87| C

8/1

Winner of back-to-back 2 handicaps here last summer and back to form the last twice, making the frame at Fontwell and most recently on first attempt at this trip over C&D 19 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 1457-43

Forecasts

Mactavish (3/1), Chatty Chich (10/3), Robber's Bridge (6/1), Ascension Day (15/2), Emanate (8/1), A Tickatickatiming (10/1), Kayf Legend (14/1), Danny's Friend (22/1), Fabreze (22/1), I Shut That D'or (28/1), Toronet (28/1), Omega (33/1), Esperti (40/1), Fricotin (66/1)

While dropping back in trip may not be entirely ideal for CHATTY CHICH, she may well get away with it on this galloping track, with her recent successes at around 3m gained on sharper courses. She is certainly progressive and a 5 lb rise for her latest victory looks manageable. Ascension Day is second choice, while A Tickatickatiming, Emanate, recent C&D winner Mactavish and Robber's Bridge all appealing as live each-way candidates.