16:50 Worcester

Wednesday 21 August 2024

All16:5017:2517:5518:3019:0019:3520:05

Martin Keighley Racing Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 3m 55.8s

Kayf Legend^p1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 99| D

16/1

Bumper winner who opened his hurdles account at the second attempt in a Lingfield novice in February last year. However, he's gone the wrong way since, off 13 months prior to his only start last season. Goes chasing with cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 61P/9-80

Upagainstit⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 95| D

10/1

Made a winning chase debut at Warwick in March 2023 but didn't go on from that effort. However, back over hurdles he was runner-up at Bangor in June and looked set for third before falling at the same course later that month. Not discounted.

Form: F/536-2F

Don Occhetti^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 94

11/4

Little solid form over hurdles but has placed both starts sent chasing this season, meeting trouble in running when third in novice handicap at Market Rasen (17.2f, good to firm) on latest outing. Leading contender with improvement to come.

Form: 6970-23

Abaya Du Mathan^t,p⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 94| D

16/1

Has done well since joining current yard, winning twice earlier in the year and shaping as if still in form when fifth of 8 behind Pittsburg at Uttoxeter (16f, soft) last month, tiring late on under testing conditions. Can give another good account.

Form: 31-3425

Ben Buie^v²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley| OR: 93| D

16/1

Two wins from 6 runs last season but went backwards from his return when pulled up at Newton Abbot (21f, good) in June. Back over hurdles, failed to stay when tailed off at this course (23f, good) last time, though others are still more persuasive.

Form: 14P-3P8

Supposedtobe³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 93| D

12/1

Opened account over hurdles in Ireland last summer and returned to form for current yard when a close third at Cartmel (17.2f, soft) in May. However, ran poorly at Newton Abbot last time, so bounce back called for as he makes his chase debut.

Form: P-59360

Moodofthemoment^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 92

10/1

Modest form at best over hurdles/fences for David Pipe, but won all 3 of his point starts prior to finishing well held over hurdles at this course (23f, good) in July. Goes back chasing again after only the one race for David Dennis.

Form: 3P1-110

Pittsburg^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: R Potter| OR: 91| D

15/2

Took advantage of his fall in the weights when recording a third win over fences at Uttoxeter (16f, soft) in July. Never involved in 2 runs on the Flat since, but he remains on a workable mark back in this sphere. Enters calculations.

Form: 0-50551

Guillaume^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 90| D

11/1

Made the most of a good opportunity to get off the mark under Rules at Catterick in December. Has returned to a similar level of form this season, fourth of 10 at Cartmel (17.3f, good to firm) a month ago, so he could be thereabouts.

Form: 4164-34

Goaheadwiththeplan⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 88| D

33/1

Maiden hurdler but made his second chase start a winning one at Uttoxeter in July 2022. Subsequently absent for 22 months and fared little better than on his comeback when down the field at this course (20f, good) 44 days ago.

Form: 3421/P0

Gerard Mentor^t,p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 88| D

16/1

Winless over hurdles since scoring 4 times in 2022 and has gone the wrong way in 3 starts since making the frame at Ludlow in May, well held at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) last time. However, he lurks on a dangerous mark as he makes his chase debut.

Form: 90-4660

Bensini^v³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 83| C

5/1

Winning hurdler who twice finished runner-up sent chasing last season. Ran poorly over hurdles on his penultimate start, but in first-time visor he was second past the post at Cartmel (21.2f, soft) 30 days ago, demoted for causing interference. Back down in trip.

Form: 224-U9D

Full Of Light^t⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: B R Summers| OR: 79| D

12/1

Fair winning hurdler at best when trained by Nicky Henderson, but remains a maiden over fences. After 6 months off, shaped as if needing the run when well held at Stratford in June, though others still preferred despite his falling mark.

Form: U4545-7

Non-Runners

Smurfette³²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: T Ellis J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Don Occhetti (11/4), Bensini (5/1), Pittsburg (15/2), Moodofthemoment (10/1), Upagainstit (10/1), Guillaume (11/1), Supposedtobe (12/1), Full Of Light (12/1), Smurfette (12/1), Gerard Mentor (16/1), Abaya Du Mathan (16/1), Kayf Legend (16/1), Ben Buie (16/1), Goaheadwiththeplan (33/1)

DON OCCHETTI has made an encouraging start to his chasing career, unlucky not to finish closer having been hampered at the last when third at Market Rasen last month, so he could be ready to open his account this time around. Guillaume has returned to form when making the frame both starts this season and is feared most, ahead of Pittsburg.