July 26 / 19.05 Worcester

19.05 Worcester

Good

FBC Manby Bowdler Handicap Hurdle

Prize money: £4683.56
2m 4f 0y
Class 4
10 runners

SKY

View Course

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Ashoka

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Form: 11-133

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict

Won three in a row over hurdles this spring (2m2f-2m5f, good/good to soft) before a solid third of six at Uttoxeter; beaten about 14l when third over fences here last month but that form has been franked by the first two and he could be in the mix now back over hurdles.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
No Results Found

Getalead

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Claire Harris

Form: 11432-

Last run: 162 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict

Landed a hat-trick last autumn (2m3f/2m5f, good/good to soft) and continued in good form, finishing second at Plumpton when last seen in February; has had a wind op since and he's run well when fresh; could be a contender.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 4	3rd Mar 2023 Good 3m 0f 52y Class 3	16:00 Newbury Getalead 11st 9lb J: David Prichard T: Claire Harris	held up in rear, ridden before 3 out	10/1
6th 2	6th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 7f 174y Class 3	15:30 Ludlow Getalead 11st 7lb J: David Prichard T: Claire Harris	Won two in a row in September; has run creditably facing much stiffer tasks on his two outings since but this also looks tough.	14/1
5th 7	29th Dec 2022 Good 3m 0f 84y Class 3	13:55 Doncaster Getalead 11st 2lb J: David Prichard T: Claire Harris	Soundly beaten at Cheltenham (2m5f) last month and has to bounce back but he showed improved form previously when winning two in a row in September; has run well at up to an extended 2m7f and is not written off.	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

3rd Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

11st 9lb

held up in rear, ridden before 3 out

10/1

6th

6th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 3

11st 7lb

Won two in a row in September; has run creditably facing much stiffer tasks on his two outings since but this also looks tough.

14/1

5th

29th Dec 2022

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

11st 2lb

Soundly beaten at Cheltenham (2m5f) last month and has to bounce back but he showed improved form previously when winning two in a row in September; has run well at up to an extended 2m7f and is not written off.

16/1

Supakalanistic

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Form: 2P7/P- D

Last run: 241 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict

His mark continues to fall but he's struggled on his last three hurdle starts, the latest last November, and he's been well beaten on the Flat on his last three outings; major turnaround needed in first-time headgear.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
No Results Found

OUR TIP

Accidental Rebel

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Form: 35P-11 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict

Made a winning stable debut at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in May after a layoff and followed up at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month; had just a neck to spare last time but he's clearly in top form and has to be respected.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
8th 1	4th Mar 2023 Good To Soft 2m 2f 25y Class 1	14:25 Kelso Accidental Rebel 11st 10lb J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien	towards rear, niggled along briefly after 2nd	11/1
1	31st Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 4f 118y Class 1	15:00 Newbury Accidental Rebel 11st 7lb J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Fergal O’Brien	The oldest in the field; much improved since joining Fergal O'Brien this season, notching win number four in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow (2m3f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in October; may be open to further progress but this is another step up in class and Paddy Brennan jumps ship.	25/1
1st 1	7th Oct 2022 Good 2m 3f 100y Class 1	14:10 Chepstow Accidental Rebel 11st 0lb J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien	prominent, pushed along and went second 2 out, soon hung left, slightly hampered approaching last where 2 1/2 lengths down, ridden and led run-in, stayed on (jockey said gelding hung left-handed under pressure)	14/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

8th

4th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 1

11st 10lb

towards rear, niggled along briefly after 2nd

11/1

31st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 1

11st 7lb

The oldest in the field; much improved since joining Fergal O'Brien this season, notching win number four in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow (2m3f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in October; may be open to further progress but this is another step up in class and Paddy Brennan jumps ship.

25/1

1st

7th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 1

11st 0lb

prominent, pushed along and went second 2 out, soon hung left, slightly hampered approaching last where 2 1/2 lengths down, ridden and led run-in, stayed on (jockey said gelding hung left-handed under pressure)

14/1

Northern Bound

J: Luca Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Form: 163-61 C

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict

Won over fences here (2m4f, good) last month on second start back from a break and he's able to run off 5lb lower now back over hurdles; however, his hurdle form is inferior and he needs a career best in this sphere.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 4	3rd Nov 2022 Good 2m 3f 187y Class 3	16:42 Newbury Northern Bound 11st 7lb J: Luca Morgan T: Ben Pauling	didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, headway after 5 out, cajoled along and went second 2 out, ridden approaching last, idled run-in, always doing enough	6/1
2nd 2	6th Oct 2022 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3	13:40 Warwick Northern Bound 11st 7lb J: Luca Morgan T: Ben Pauling	prominent 11th, ridden after 3 out, made strong challenge after 2 out, every chance run-in, no extra towards finish	6/4
1st 4	23rd Aug 2022 Good 2m 4f 72y Class 3	15:15 Bangor-on-Dee Northern Bound 11st 7lb J: Luca Morgan T: Ben Pauling	held up in behind leaders, pressed leaders 4 out, went second then pushed along before 2 out, going best after 2 out, pushed along to lead approaching last, went clear run-in, comfortably	5/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

3rd Nov 2022

Good

2m 3f 187y

Class 3

11st 7lb

didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders, headway after 5 out, cajoled along and went second 2 out, ridden approaching last, idled run-in, always doing enough

6/1

2nd

6th Oct 2022

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

11st 7lb

prominent 11th, ridden after 3 out, made strong challenge after 2 out, every chance run-in, no extra towards finish

6/4

1st

23rd Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

11st 7lb

held up in behind leaders, pressed leaders 4 out, went second then pushed along before 2 out, going best after 2 out, pushed along to lead approaching last, went clear run-in, comfortably

5/2

Faint Hope

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Form: 266-52

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict

Struggled on first three starts this year but much more like it when going close over C&D (good) last month; in the shake-up if backing up that performance with another good one.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4th 5	7th Sep 2022 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 3	14:40 Uttoxeter Faint Hope 10st 7lb J: Ben Jones T: Grace Harris	prominent, went second after 6th, lost second when ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened run-in	8/1
4th 2	20th Aug 2022 Good 2m 5f 122y Class 4	15:27 Newton Abbot Faint Hope 11st 10lb J: Jordan Nailor T: Grace Harris	prominent, disputing third when ridden home turn, kept on but not pace to challenge	7/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4th

7th Sep 2022

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

10st 7lb

prominent, went second after 6th, lost second when ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened run-in

8/1

4th

20th Aug 2022

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

11st 10lb

prominent, disputing third when ridden home turn, kept on but not pace to challenge

7/2

Al Roc

J: Philip Armson

T: David Pipe

Form: 17212P D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Has won four times over fences this season and he has a much lower hurdle mark; however, he was beaten a long way when second of five over hurdles at Newton Abbot on July 11 and was pulled up in the Summer Plate Chase just ten days ago; needs to get back on track.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5	9th Dec 2022 Good 2m 7f 214y Class 4	11:55 Doncaster Al Roc 11st 7lb J: Theo Gillard T: David Pipe	Tough sort who won four handicaps at around 2m5f (good) between May-July but he's generally struggled since last success and was a remote last of three at Leicester last time; takes a big drop back in grade but he's never won over this far and others are preferred.	14/1
3rd 4	27th Nov 2022 Good To Firm 2m 4f 25y Class 2	15:10 Leicester Al Roc 10st 4lb J: Philip Armson T: David Pipe	Tough sort having scored four times during a very busy 2022 (has raced 23 times this year); however, has proved far from consistent since the last success; receives plenty of weight from his rivals, having dropped to a handy mark, but not sure what to expect.	20/1
10	13th Nov 2022 Good To Soft 3m 3f 149y Class 3	14:05 Fontwell Al Roc 10st 8lb J: Charlie Hammond T: David Pipe	led, raced in second when headed 6th, dropped to last and struggling 11th, behind when pulled up after 13th	33/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

9th Dec 2022

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

11st 7lb

Tough sort who won four handicaps at around 2m5f (good) between May-July but he's generally struggled since last success and was a remote last of three at Leicester last time; takes a big drop back in grade but he's never won over this far and others are preferred.

14/1

3rd

27th Nov 2022

Good To Firm

2m 4f 25y

Class 2

10st 4lb

Tough sort having scored four times during a very busy 2022 (has raced 23 times this year); however, has proved far from consistent since the last success; receives plenty of weight from his rivals, having dropped to a handy mark, but not sure what to expect.

20/1

13th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

3m 3f 149y

Class 3

10st 8lb

led, raced in second when headed 6th, dropped to last and struggling 11th, behind when pulled up after 13th

33/1

True Romance

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Form: /0/2-3

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Third of seven at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in May when back from a break and another fair run when fourth on the Flat last month; wears a first-time tongue-tie and may be able to build on that penultimate effort.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
11th 7 (6)	20th Jan 2023 Standard 1m 6f 21y Class 6	13:20 Southwell (AW) True Romance 9st 7lb J: Harrison Shaw T: Neil Mulholland	Has a patchy record and was disappointing back over hurdles at Market Rasen on Boxing Day but he won a 1m6f handicap (off 3lb lower) at Wolverhampton on his penultimate run; that was a convincing win under a positive ride and he's a key player if he can match that back in this sphere.	9/2
4th 4	26th Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 0f 125y Class 5	11:55 Market Rasen True Romance 11st 6lb J: Harry Reed T: Neil Mulholland	led, not fluent 2nd, going okay 3 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, soon ridden and lost second, weakened and lost third run-in	5/1
1st 2 (11)	13th Dec 2022 Standard 1m 5f 219y Class 6	16:45 Wolverhampton (AW) True Romance 9st 9lb J: Harrison Shaw T: Neil Mulholland	Back off his last winning mark, but seen more often over hurdles these days and losing run up to 13; others make greater appeal.	8/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

11th

(6)

20th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

9st 7lb

Has a patchy record and was disappointing back over hurdles at Market Rasen on Boxing Day but he won a 1m6f handicap (off 3lb lower) at Wolverhampton on his penultimate run; that was a convincing win under a positive ride and he's a key player if he can match that back in this sphere.

9/2

4th

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

11st 6lb

led, not fluent 2nd, going okay 3 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, soon ridden and lost second, weakened and lost third run-in

5/1

1st

(11)

13th Dec 2022

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

16:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

True Romance

9st 9lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Neil Mulholland

Back off his last winning mark, but seen more often over hurdles these days and losing run up to 13; others make greater appeal.

8/1

Iron Heart

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Form: 62-526 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Has a patchy profile and he was a disappointing favourite at Perth last month but that may have come too soon, just eight after his good second over this C&D (good); could bounce back with a big run.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
7th 11 (2)	10th Mar 2023 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 4	20:00 Kempton (AW) Iron Heart 8st 7lb J: Aidan Keeley T: Tony Newcombe	towards rear	50/1
8th 12 (9)	15th Feb 2023 Standard To Slow 1m 0f 0y Class 5	19:30 Kempton (AW) Iron Heart 9st 2lb J: William Cox T: Tony Newcombe	raced in last	66/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

7th

(2)

10th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

8st 7lb

towards rear

50/1

8th

(9)

15th Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

9st 2lb

raced in last

66/1

First Quest

J: Harry Reed

T: Neil Mulholland

Form: 144-44 BF

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict

Won at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last October and is now 3lb lower; however, he's failed to threaten when fourth on his three starts since April and needs to raise his game; unproven at today's trip.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5	26th Dec 2022 Soft 1m 7f 50y Class 4	14:38 Wincanton First Quest 11st 12lb J: Thomasina Eyston T: Neil Mulholland	Won twice last season at about this trip on sharp tracks and he's been running well of late on good to soft; even deeper conditions this time are probably not ideal.	11/2
2nd 5	7th Nov 2022 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 4	17:05 Kempton First Quest 11st 8lb J: Thomasina Eyston T: Neil Mulholland	Won twice last season at about this trip on sharp tracks and it was a solid effort in defeat last time at Sedgefield; handicapped to win again and goes on any ground.	13/2
3rd 5	27th Sep 2022 Good 2m 3f 188y Class 4	15:55 Sedgefield First Quest 11st 11lb J: Thomasina Eyston T: Neil Mulholland	midfield, headway and prominent 3 out, shaken up and pressed leader when not fluent 2 out, pushed along when hung left approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in, soon drifted left	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

26th Dec 2022

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

11st 12lb

Won twice last season at about this trip on sharp tracks and he's been running well of late on good to soft; even deeper conditions this time are probably not ideal.

11/2

2nd

7th Nov 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

11st 8lb

Won twice last season at about this trip on sharp tracks and it was a solid effort in defeat last time at Sedgefield; handicapped to win again and goes on any ground.

13/2

3rd

27th Sep 2022

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

11st 11lb

midfield, headway and prominent 3 out, shaken up and pressed leader when not fluent 2 out, pushed along when hung left approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in, soon drifted left

16/1

Betting Forcast

11/2 Ashoka, 7/1 Getalead, 25/1 Supakalanistic, 9/2 Accidental Rebel, 6/1 Northern Bound, 15/2 Faint Hope, 6/1 Al Roc, 15/2 True Romance, 7/1 Iron Heart, 14/1 First Quest

Verdict

Northern Bound and Al Roc are very well treated on this season's chase form but have something to prove over hurdles. Accidental Rebel is 2-2 for Fergal O'Brien and holds strong claims but this could go to GETALEAD on his first outing since February. He was progressive last season, when also running well after some time off, and he's had a wind op since he was last seen. Ashoka, Faint Hope and True Romance could also run well.[Ben Hutton]