6.50pm Worcester Tips & Betting Preview 26/05/2017

Six runners go to post for the third race of the day at Worcester on the Friday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: CROOKSTOWN was value for a good deal more when winning at Haydock on his latest start, six lengths ahead of Next Sensation and a 7lb rise is unlikely to stop him from going in again. He remains well treated on the best of his form and with conditions to suit and Daryl Jacob retaining the ride, all signs point to a big run.

1 NEXT SENSATION – Won the 2015 Grand Annual and although he’d been in a poor run of form since winning at Newton Abbot in September, he turned things around when finishing third behind Crookstown at Haydock two weeks ago. He stayed on well that day so the step up in trip should help, with a mark of 132 seeing him still well treated on the best of his form from early 2016. Conditions are to suit and he’s likely to be involved under  Tom Scudamore, so is respected.

2 FOUNDATION MAN – Very consistent towards the end of last year, winning twice at Leicester and Doncaster before being denied in his hat-trick bid at Leicester off a mark of 127, which he races off again today. An 149 day break may well have done him the world of good and with jack Savage claiming 7lb he has very good chance of playing a prominent role in this, with the Jonjo O’Neill yard remaining in good form at present. Likely contender and has to be considered.

3 CROOKSTOWN – Put three forth placed efforts behind him when winning a Haydock handicap 13 days ago, making multiple mistakes but winning with authority in the end under today’s rider Daryl Jacob. he has been raised 7lb as a result but he’s likely still good value for more as he won in good style and is still well treated on the best of his old form for Ben Case, whose yard in performing well currently. A big run looks on the card and he’s another main player.

4 NO LIKEY – Has only completed on one of his last three runs, unseating his rider on both of the other occasions, with his latest unseat coming at Stratford where he still may have played a roll in the finish. That gives him a lot to prove and he’ll need to get back to near his best if he’s to be threatening in this, facing some in form rivals who seem much more straight forward. He’s now back onto his last winning mark and has a good chance with conditions to suit, but he remains risky due to his non completions.

5 ONE TEAM – Four wins from ten chasing starts, with the latest of those coming back in April 2015 at Stratford where he battled back gamely to take victory off a 7lb higher mark. He was disappointing in three subsequent runs but got back to somewhere near his best ove rhrudles on his latest start at Ffos Las, not beaten far and perhaps needing the run as he found little for pressure in the closing stages. He should be happier back over fences and he’s impossible to rule out with conditions to suit and Adam Wedge taking the ride.

6 LETTHERIVERRUNDRY – Took a very easy victory over hurdles almost a year ago to the day but he has struggled on four subsequent runs, last seen at Ffos Las two weeks ago when well beaten and miles behhind One Term on that occasion. He was far from convincing on his two previous chasing runs and has plenty to prove, so others are readily preferred on this occasion.