16:40 Worcester

Wednesday 28 August 2024

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Forge Cattery, Fernhill Heath, Worcester Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:44 | Winning time: 5m 1.53s

Walkingoneggshells^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Watson| OR: 100

12/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who hinted at promise first 2 starts over fences but took a major backward step over C&D last week (made a bad mistake). Needs to cut out the errors.

Form: 208-67P

Lost Connections^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price| OR: 100| D

11/4

Landed a 2m4f mares' handicap chase at Ludlow last season. Rather in and out since, often ridden with restraint but she stuck to her task when fourth over C&D last month. Sound claims.

Form: 2U-5644

Politicianspromise^t,p1⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 85

10/1

Tailed off in a maiden hurdle in Ireland in 2021 and won once from 10 starts in points subsequently. Little in the way of promise upon return to Rules this year, brushed aside on handicap/chase debut in June. Cheekpieces fitted.

Form: 555-068

Famous Last Word⁵⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83

16/1

Very lightly raced for a 9-y-o and didn't convince in a couple of starts over fences during early 2023. Has a good deal to prove returning from another lengthy absence.

Form: 5335P6/

Sinister Minister^b,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 82| D

18/1

Finally got the job done when accounting for 5 rivals in a conditional jockeys' handicap at Bangor (20.3f, soft) in October. Let down by jumping first 2 starts back and then threw in a shocker at Uttoxeter. Back down in trip.

Form: 216-F0P

Henry Box Brown³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 82

15/2

Opened his account over hurdles at Uttoxeter in December 2022. Mixed record since, following runner-up effort at Stratford in June with a brace of lesser efforts.

Form: 08-F257

Miss Marette³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 79

12/1

Came good in a weak mares' maiden at Exeter last autumn but has just the one creditable effort to her name in handicaps since. Others are preferred on chase debut.

Form: 034-P50

She Has Notions^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 79| CD

11/4

Left previous efforts behind when scoring over this C&D in early July. Consistency hasn't been his strong suit this far but he needs considering on the back of that.

Form: 5P55P-1

Invincible Wish⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 77

22/1

Veteran who confirmed he's back in good order when finally shedding maiden status at Stratford last month. Overall profile more of an issue than 3 lb rise.

Form: 654261

School For Scandal⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: David Noonan| T: J Tickle| OR: 75

22/1

Not the most reliable. Bounced back to form when second at Hereford in February but not the biggest surprise that he's failed to reproduce that in his 4 outings since.

Form: 724-58P

Mr Sociable^b1⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 65

50/1

Well held in 3 outings over hurdles back from a long absence in 2022/23 and fared no better last season, including over fences on his 3 most recent starts. Easy enough to look elsewhere from out of the weights fitted with blinkers.

Form: 907P0-P

Beannaigh Do³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 64

25/1

Has gone the wrong way since chase debut and he's a long way out of the handicap here.

Form: 5P-4680

Kayf Baha^t⁴¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 64

33/1

Winning Irish pointer but no worthwhile form under Rules.

Form: 0009P/0-

Non-Runners

Harrys Hope¹³¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Lost Connections (11/4), She Has Notions (11/4), Harrys Hope (6/1), Henry Box Brown (15/2), Politicianspromise (10/1), Miss Marette (12/1), Walkingoneggshells (12/1), Famous Last Word (16/1), Sinister Minister (18/1), School For Scandal (22/1), Invincible Wish (22/1), Beannaigh Do (25/1), Kayf Baha (33/1), Mr Sociable (50/1)

LOST CONNECTIONS is a pretty consistent operator at this sort of level, something that cannot be said for most of these, so she rates the percentage call. Harrys Hope is a potential improver switched to fences following a break, with last month's C&D scorer She Has Notions another to consider.