Racecards
15:20 Worcester
Mears Family Day Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 53P-321
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey W T Kennedy
tracked leaders, ridden 11th, led 4 out, all out when headed line
- Form 22/4337-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden and outpaced 11th, switched right approaching last, hung left and no extra
- Form 7P4-1P6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 96
led, headed 4 out, beaten 3 out
- Form 17005P-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, mistake 7th and 10th, closer order 11th, in touch when fell 4 out
- Form 33442-5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leader, chased leaders 4 out, kept on well to lead line
Lawood (IRE)
23- Form 79/8
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Siddall
in rear, mistake 4th, tailed off 10th
- Form R25426
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey Mr L R Payter
in rear, ridden and headway 11th, weakened after 3 out, unseated rider last
- Form 4U724-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer B P J Baugh
- Jockey J Mogford
mid-divison, tailed off after 10th
In depth
Verdict
Salhood can defy topweight at the expense of Butler's Cabin, Flying Spur and Cansalrun. It has to be said that Salhood raised a few eyebrows with the manner of his very, very easy win over fences at Market Rasen a fortnight ago, taking it up three out before coasting home on the bit. That was a big improvement on anything that he had shown previously, but he had been going the right way, and it was only his 10th ever outing. So, we are prepared to bet that was no fluke and row in again with the gelding, although our confidence would be higher if there was a bit more juice in the ground. Butler's Cabin is well-related for this game, but is inexperienced and has not been seen since January, while Flying Spur was pulled up over hurdles in February and is another best watched. Cansalrun would have needed her return here in June, and will be straighter with this under her belt, so she should break her duck sometime this coming winter, but for now it can pay to follow Salhood again.