Good Morning, Friend,

Team Shan, some of whom pictured above, will be descending on Worcester later on, and below you can find my thoughts on his race and a 'through the card'. I planned to send this out last night but had to wait and see what the weather did. They've received 10mm and it should be soft enough, a few NRs already.

Before that, don't forget Sam Darby's 'Free Tips Friday' column will go up around 8pm this evening, and I plan to post my 'big race trends' shortlists and trainer pointers this afternoon, in prep for Saturday. So, just stop by the blog later on, HERE >>>

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To Worcester...

Through The Card

2.20 - Semando - 8/1

2.50 - Fairlawn Flyer - 17/2 (NAP)

3.25 - Alioski - 5/2 (was 4s, darn) (Next Best#1)

4.00 - Star Legend - 7/2

4.32 - Shandanncer - 15/2

17.07 - Alberic - 5/1 (Next Best #2)

Semando - his first chase start for his new trainer, having run well over hurdles the last twice including a win. He's well handicapped on old form for Jonjo O'Neill and this is only his second chase, so there could be more to come. It could be he's spent too long hurdling and won't pick his feet up high enough, but I thought a shade overpriced, esp as the only soft ground winner in the field, that shouldn't bother him. He may enjoy this chase tempo now.

If Judge Earle handles the ground, which is a big enough question at the odds, this lot won't see which way he goes if repeating his Uttox efforts, but we snaffled him there at 7/2. I've no idea if Jet Smart or No Worries will handle soft - if they do, they may not be far away, I do like the former but 7/2 when guessing as to the ground wasn't for me.

Fairlawn Flyer - well he could just be out of form and yet to recapture his chase heights of last season, but he's looking very well handicapped now and the hope is a return to proper soft ground (if indeed it is that) at a more conventional galloping chase track, will do the job. He didn't run too badly at Market Rasen, looking like a non-stayer over 28f, but this is his ground. Team Bowen are flying also, Peter 5/14,7p in the last 14 days. Peter/Sean are 10/23, 11p around here in the last year, and they'll be doing everything they can to help Sean win the championship. If the horse is just out of sorts, then the price doesn't matter, but 8s or so looks big if he bounces back here.

Biowavego is worth keeping an eye on, a chance he takes a big step forward for chase debut last time, for all he needs to, but given he's won around here over hurdles in soft, maybe this was the short term plan. He has chases in him. Fairlawn at his best has achieved more over fences, and with some good form to boot, but maybe he only runs well at Ffos Las, we shall see. Tiger Orchid could go well also, but I don't know about the ground, and he can jump slowly at times.

Alioski - his price has gone which is annoying but maybe no surprise, two spins on the AW to sharpen him up. IF he gets back to the level of his Sandown 3rd, in a much better race than this up against horses who's franked the form/now 120s+ types, then he could take some stopping. He has a 10lb claimer on but she's won a couple of races and makes this one even more attractively weighted.

Plenty have ground questions over hurdles, including State of Bliss, but if he handles it, may give me something to think about.

Star Legend - Deva Racing have sponsored this race in memory of the much loved Captain Tom Cat who's sadly no longer with us after a fall at Market Rasen. You'd think they'd like to win this race, as would Dr Newland who has a couple in here also. However it's Deva's James Owen horse who looks worth siding with, esp if trackside, for all 7/2 is probably about right. James has made a fine start to his training career, 10/44, 19p so far, x9 of those over hurdles. The yard are in form and Harry C is 5/10,8p when riding for them. This one appeared to handle heavy on debut last time, but was a little keen and may well have needed it a tad. He gets a hood here and could take a big step forward, Harry may be able to dictate also, unless they decide to get cover this time.

Shandancer - our Shan, having his first handicap hurdle run since his wind op and it was pleasing to see a much better jumping performance in blinkers at Southwell - had he jumped like that at Stratford and Fontwell, he'd have probably have won, and was unlucky at the former. We wanted to try him at Worc as he may enjoy these hurdles, which you can brush through fairly easily, if on the odd occasion he doesn't bother picking his feet up properly. He is a solid 105 horse, just a shame we didn't him handicapped off 90 and we'd have had quite the time of it, darn.

Anyway, his last start can be ignored, as can the Plumpton 3m run when he bombed out - on both occasions he got very agitated in his box pre race, had to be washed down plenty, and just wasted far too much energy. Hopefully Worcester's stables are not near any loud tannoys, but he'll have a red hood on and maybe ear-plugs, so hopefully he enters the parade ring in fine form - if he's behave like Southwell, he won't run his race again off the bend as there won't be anything left.

I think he may handle this ground better than most (although like most has it to prove) and if he runs up to his very best, sets a decent standard, even under this big weight. That may anchor him down late as he's not the biggest, but a chance Nadim doesn't stay what is now 2m5f in soft ground, here's hoping!

Thankfully for us the race has cut up a bit, and even with the reformed market, my head does say 7s or so is just far too big. Especially given what the rest have done so far and soft is an unknown for them all, hopefully they struggle! Jack may be able to get an easy lead also, here's hoping. If Nadim does run to his best/stays, then giving him 17lb inc jockey claims, will be tough, but hopefully he'll be paddling from two out. We will get Shan's head in front at some point over hurdles, there's no attitude problem, and maybe today is the day. He does need a holiday soon but with any luck we can get him his win first. If he does get stuck in the mud or weighed down, at least his mark will drop and he can then take a drop into 0-100 grade.

Alberic - I thought 5s was fair here, he's gone well fresh, the ground is no problem, he's well handicapped and his best form is decent enough at this level. Charlie Pritchard has ridden x9 point winners so has some experience. The horse is tricky and probably needs delivering late. He also has to prove himself over this far but has shaped a few times as if he'd just keep galloping. We shall see!

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As always, do with that little lot as you please - read/ignore, fun muggy multiples, place pots, singles etc.

All the best,

Josh