The Ian Williams-trained Head On made a winning start to his chasing career when scoring over C&D three weeks ago and he seems sure to be in the thick of this again from 4lb higher. He made one or two mistakes in that run and rider Tom O'Brien lost his whip at the second last, so it was to their credit they came through to win. The very able Liam Harrison takes over for this Conditional Jockeys' contest and Head On is up to the challenge of making it 2-2 in this sphere.
Jemima P has won three from four this season over fences since undergoing a wind operation and is hard to oppose here. She scored a wide-margin C&D in May and followed that up with another decisive success at Ffos Las the same month having gone up 11lb in the ratings. She has another 12lb hike to contend with after a break since but Emma Lavelle's mare looks capable of giving weight and a beating to these rivals.
Fifrelet defied an absence of 619 days from his debut success at Warwick in December 2019 when he turned up there three weeks ago and was only just held in second spot. Ian Williams' charge will have eyes on going one better, though the dreaded 'bounce' is feared after that long layoff. Nigel Twiston-Davies saddles a likely looking newcomer in Fine By Me. He's by St Leger winner Kingston Hill and should relish this opening test.
The Warren Greatrex-inmate Drumlee Watar won his first three starts post wind surgery this summer, scoring at Newton Abbot in late June and supplementing with wins at Uttoxeter and here over C&D in July. His one run since saw him held in third - by less than a length - at Bangor (2m7f, good) having made the running. He was run down late on by the market principles but lost little in defeat. He remains on the same mark of 125 and is fancied to bag another hurdles success for himself with pilot Caoilin Quinn taking off a valuable 7lb.
One of the oldest racecourses in the country, action has been taking place at Worcester since 1718. The course provides National Hunt fans to enjoy jumps racing throughout the summer, with 21 annual fixtures in the warmer months of the year.
With sweeping turns, and relatively easy fences, the track can provide an ideal introduction for novice chasers to hone their jumping skills before targeting one of the big spring festivals.
