Racecards
14:40 Worcester
Ladbrokes Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Winner: £2,924
- 2nd: £859
- 3rd: £429
- 4th: £215

- Form 88669-1
- Age 6
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer M Gates
- Jockey Ciaran McKee
held up in rear, not fluent when modest progress 3 out, not fluent last, plugged on, never in contention

- Form 0410/84-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer A Hobbs
- Jockey Peter Carberry
towards rear, mistake 7th, struggling 10th, behind next, pulled up before 4 out

- Form 32121-7
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Andrew Martin
- Jockey J Martin
prominent, led 3rd, headed 7th, led next, headed after 9th, ridden 12th, outpaced after 5 out, no impression after

- Form 1P/0555-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey L Treadwell
tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, close up when blundered badly 3 out, weakened next

Royale Knight
147- Form 11113P-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Chris Ward
mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway 11th, mistake next, led 3 out, stayed on well

- Form 653/5P2-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, headway 3rd, mistake 5th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance last, no impression on winner and dropped to 3rd final 100 yards, no extra

- Form 54216-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer A Hobbs
- Jockey Donal Fahy
towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 12th, hit 13th, close 3rd when not fluent 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd final 100 yards, unable to challege winner

- Form 066578-
- Age 13
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey Jake Greenall
in touch, ridden before 4 out, one pace in 4th last

- Form 323675-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey Mr O Garner
mistake 1st, always in rear

- Form 73F22P-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
ridden leaving start, not always fluent, towards rear, never on terms, well beaten after 5 out

- Form 35125/4-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey D C Costello
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, hampered next, not fluent 3rd, well beaten 5 out, pulled up before 4 out

- Form 4727P-6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey A Glassonbury
held up, jumped right at times, headway 3rd, mistake 12th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out

- Form 28P3PP-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey T Messenger
took keen hold, led, not fluent and headed 3rd, lost place 7th, pulled up before next

- Form 3/5PP96-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey R Mahon
prominent, led 14th, blundered 4 out, headed next, weakened 2 out

- Form 24U357-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place 4th, well beaten when hampered 3 out

- Form P/8249F-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer B R Summers
- Jockey James Best
prominent, led 7th until next, led after 9th, headed 5 out, weakening when fell 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Handsome Buddy bids to follow up last month's course and distance victory off a 9lb higher mark and should be thereabouts again but a few have decent claims in this including the returning Royale Knight, who rattled up a four-timer in the autumn, and March's Ffos Las winner Waltzing Tornado. Veteran Rifleman could also play a part but this may be too far for Oranger while Derwen Pryde needs forgiving a poor run at Chepstow. HEEZAGREY is high enough in the weights but Ollie Garner takes off 7lb and he's more than capable of winning this if in the mood.
Formwatch
Handsome Buddy (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway 14th, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Whispering Jack (11-10) by 8l, 8 ran.
Jomade (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in last pair in touch, ridden to chase leaders before 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 4th of 8, 29l behind Themilanhorse (11-0) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Oranger (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in last trio, reminder 7th, soon struggling, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 35l behind Peak Seasons (9-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Victoria Rose (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Always towards rear, went poor 5th from 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 39l behind Sentimentaljourney (11-12) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Royale Knight 11-4 (11-9) Raced wide, chased leading pair, went 2nd 10th, remider after next, lost 2nd before hit 4 out, weakened before next, poor 4th when went left 3 out and pulled up, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Maid Of Silk (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In touch, effort on outside after 3 out, every chance next, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Quaddick Lake (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Waltzing Tornado (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway on outside after 9th, outpaced from 14th, held from 4 out, 4th of 8, 22l behind Handsome Buddy (9-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Rifleman (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Towards rear, ridden after 7th, never on terms, 8th of 14, well behind Oddjob (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Heezagrey (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Led until ridden and headed before 3 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders until weakened under pressure between last two, 5th of 11, 18l behind Signed Request (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Derwen Pryde 14-1 (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent and reminder 2nd, mistake 5th, well behind 11th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Loughalder (10-10) at Chepstow 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Normandy Landings 12-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, chased leader until after 4th, pushed along bypassing omitted 5 out, stayed chasing leaders until no extra 2 out, 4th of 10, 20l behind Smokey George (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Hazy Dawn 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 12th, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, well behind Time Do (11-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Himayna 66-1 (10-5) Always behind, struggling 9th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Haar (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Lapin Garou (FR) 3-1fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, not fluent and lost 3rd last, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 18l behind Solitary Palm (10-0) at Taunton 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 9-4fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 9th, closed 13th, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 7, 29l behind Keeverfield (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Mar.
Photogenique (FR) 16-1 (9-12) Held up behind leaders, fell 8th, in a race won by Doubletoilntrouble (11-12) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Mar, 6 ran.