Racecards
20:10 Worcester
It's Irish Night At Worcester Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 93516-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
took keen hold early, held up in touch, every chance last, not quicken flat
- Form 31144-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 105
held up, headway 5th, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed soon after last, not quicken
- Form 111-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, headway approaching 3 out, switched left after 2 out, led soon after last, kept on well
- Form 9P-7202
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened after last
- Form 5668-13
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey V Slattery
held up towards rear, driven along 5th, headway after 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 250514-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey
took keen hold, tracked leader, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 41110-7
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 101
held up, hit 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
Magic Merlin
61- Form 2-87
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer C P Morlock
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up in touch, led after 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 7B70-10
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
prominent, blundered 2nd, led 4th until after next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
- Form 7008-21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer R J Baker
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mid-division, headway 4th, one pace from 2 out
- Form 0P-4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
pulled hard early, held up, kept on flat, never nearer
- Form 637840-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
led to 4th, weakened after next, no chance when jumped left 2 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Lahib The Fifth looks the one to be on here in this competitive race with Lucky Do, General Smith and Patronage all worth noting. Lahib The Fifth won a bumper and two hurdle races last season when undefeated and was slightly disappointing when he was a beaten favourite at Hexham on his reappearance when beaten by Lord On The Run. He is entitled to come on for that run and it was a tough race but he needs to be back at his best here and if he is will take some beating. Lucky Do caught the eye at Hereford when finishing second last time out and Patronage was in winning form on his penultimate race at Uttoxeter before disappointing last time out. While General Smith has to be noted after a win over course and distance and a good third behind Predator at Hereford last time out. But for the winner we return to Lahib The Fifth.
Formwatch
Dyneburg (POL) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 15l behind Anticipating (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Cream Cracker 7-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after next, 10th of 15, 35l behind Mac Federal (10-6) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 7th, effort between last 2, one pace flat, 4th of 13, 7l behind Lord On The Run (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Lucky Do (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, rallying when jumped left 2 out, soon outpaced again, kept on well approaching last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Tom Bell (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
General Smith 8-1 (11-4) Held up and pulled hard, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out until weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Predator (11-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Flake 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 8l behind Overstrand (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Patronage 15-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 9th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 10th of 14, 20l behind Sultan Fontenaille (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Galant Eye (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 5th, close up when mistake 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, led again after last, all out, won at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) sft in Jun beating Smilingvalentine (9-9) by 3/4l, 13 ran.