Racecards
16:20 Worcester
John Burke Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
Snipe
12- Form 98-4362
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
towards rear, headway 13th, weakened 4 out
- Form PP-UP53
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 87
tracked leaders throughout, weakening when fell 4 out
- Form 0-F33F1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 5th, reminders 9th, weakened 10th, fell next
- Form 11-6344
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 86
never a factor
- Form P-621P4
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, hit 7th, one pace from 4 out
- Form 73-09P0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
always in rear, pulled up before 13th
- Form 1PPP5P/
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 84
in touch, ridden 7th, weakened 10th, mistake next, pulled up before 14th
- Form 5/3-1113
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey R Hobson
towards rear, headway after 8th, weakening when fell 14th
- Form 5366-P1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 80
led, headed and mistake 2nd, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 324256
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer F M Barton
- Jockey T Greenway
towards rear, pulled up before 10th
- Form 2-11234
- Age 12
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey N D Fehily
always in rear, badly hampered 11th, mistake 14th
- Form 7573-61
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey P J Brennan
led 2nd, headed next, led again 5th, ridden and hit 3 out, headed 2 out, fading when hit last
- Form P-P8036
- Age 12
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 36-84R4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey D R Dennis
mid-division, jumped right 6th, ridden and some headway 13th, weakened 3 out
- Form 564P8-P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer P D Williams
- Jockey Mr P Sheldrake
always in the rear, lost touch 10th, pulled up after 12th
- Form 3/0P0-96
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer Ms Sue Smith
- Jockey J P Byrne
towards rear, hampered 11th, weakening when hampered again 14th, pulled up 2 out and dismounted
- Form P/8F-PPP
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey R Young
mid-division, headway 13th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led 2 out, ran on
In depth
Verdict
This is another wide-open contest, and only a tentative vote goes to Royal China over a whole host of other possibles including River Quoile, The Spacer, Snipe and Sissinghurst Storm. Plenty to choose from then, but we shall side with Royal China who made the most of a decent mark when successfully returning from a break at Uttoxeter in July, and who was not disgraced when third at Market Rasen next time. He is still well enough treated to be considered, and may go close at a fair price. River Quoile jumped to his right two out when winning at Market Rasen last week, and seemed to have a hard race in the main. If suitably recovered he can take a hand. The Spacer may need conditions a bit softer and does not always look foot-perfect, while Snipe is going the right way but has to give weight away all round. Sissinghurst Storm has yet to recapture last season's form, and further down the handicap, both Father Tom and Mollycarrsbrekfast need to find a few pounds to figure. The market may well reveal a gamble or two, but for the winner we return to Royal China.