Shoe-in at Worcester?

It has been chalked in for some time now, but tonight DONOVAN finally has a second attempt at steeplechase fences in a 2 mile Handicap Chase at Worcester, and I personally think it's barring accidents for him and Larry McGrath. He gets into the race off a mark of 84, compared to a current rating over timber of 109. That rating was given to him on the basis of one solitary run over fences in a handicap chase at Hereford fifteen months ago, in which he jumped awfully and was pulled up at halfway. However, this New Zealander had not fully acclimatised to UK conditions at that stage, and was having a pop over fences to try to salvage something from a very poor first season under Rules over here. Can't argue too much with the form he's shown since then, however, racking up four victories over a variety of surfaces and collecting over £25,000 prizemoney in so doing. In short, he hasn't run in as lowly a race as a Class F over hurdles for some time now, and after tonight I don't think he'll be getting into any further Class F chases either.

ASTRONAUT also makes an appearance tonight, his first since being acquired in a selling hurdle at Uttoxeter a short while ago. It will be much the best race he has lined up in for years, being a Class D Handicap Hurdle, but the going and 2m 4f trip should be alright. Henry Oliver rides him for Paul Beck.

Earlier in the day at Uttoxeter, DAN DE LION has yet another attempt at breaking his duck, this time in a CJ Selling Handicap Hurdle which looks no better or worse than most of its kind. Paul O'Neill takes the ride and 3lb off his back. The horse's owner Malcolm Niall Imray, incidentally, appears to be one of the Brancepeth staff, along with his relation (wife? sister?) Jane. Malcolm was doing a lot of the guiding-people-away-from-under-horses'-feet at the Open Day.

Finally, Richard Guest also has one runner under The Other Code at Haydock, with another ex-Vicky Haigh 2yo, BELLA FIORELLA, lining up in a Median Auction Stakes. No obvious reason to suspect she is going to improve on four well-beaten efforts to date, but Frankie McDonald - good value for his 3lb claim - is a useful jockey booking.