'He returns to his favourite track with a few pounds in hand' - which chaser can foil strong Skelton team at Worcester?

Three-time course winner Courtland looks nicely handicapped on his best form, and represents a team going great guns.

The ten-year-old, successful by 23 lengths at Hereford in March 2024 off a mark of 142 just four starts ago, competes off 8lb lower this time.

He was off the track for 14 months before his Cartmel third in June and ran a blinder when a five-length runner-up to the Gavin Cromwell-trained Ballysax Hank in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen the following month.

Ballysax Hank is an unexposed six-year-old with the scope for further improvement, and it was almost certain that Courtland confirmed at Market Rasen that he retained all his ability.

If that proves to be the case, he will return to arguably his favourite track with a few pounds in hand of the handicapper. His trainer Mickey Bowen has won with four of his last nine runners.

Mikey Bowen: runners going well at presentCredit: Carl Evans

Dan Skelton is responsible for five of the ten runners, with Harry Skelton’s mount Snipe the pick based on jockey bookings.

The eight-year-old tackled some highly competitive staying handicaps last season, including the Scottish Grand National and Great Yorkshire Chase. 

His overall consistency means the handicapper has kept him pinned on high marks, and this race might not provide a sufficient stamina test.

Stablemate Sail Away, last seen when landing a 3m1f handicap chase at Aintree in May, is another who might prefer a longer trip.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

Going update

The going was good on Sunday, although there is as much as 15mm of rain forecast. A yellow weather warning for gusts up to 45mph is in place for Monday, with between 2-5mm of rain forecast.

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Heltenham, Sail Away, Jet Plane, Frere D'Armes and Snipe
Heltenham had a good break after running at Uttoxeter in May and is starting back, as is Sail Away. He won last time out and he's a little bit older these days. The handicapper has had a bit of a say, but the trip is fine. Jet Plane had a productive season last term in hunter chases, but his mark might be a little too high. The same can be said for Frere D'Armes and he might be better over shorter distances, but the track and trip are fine and he'll cope with it. Snipe drops back a little in trip, but is down in grade and there might be a little bit of wiggle room in his mark.

Jedd O'Keeffe, trainer of Vintage Fizz
It's helpful that the handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds, and it was a bit of a non-event at Stratford last time for a hold-up horse like him. He won't mind a little bit of rain but doesn't want too much. He can definitely win off his mark and we're hopeful he can run a nice race.

Alex Hales, trainer of No Risk With Lou
He's very good, but we want the rain to stay away and we'll keep an eye on the forecast. He ran well at Stratford the other day when the front two slipped the field, but he's generally been in fine form through the summer. He was unlucky not to win at Uttoxeter a couple of starts back when he tipped up at the second-last.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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Hat-trick-seekers out at Brighton and Worcester plus a novice to note at Kempton 

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