Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams' NAP is a chaser at Worcester

Promising handicap debut off 3lb higher mark

Worcester 17:15: School For Scandal 1pt e/w 5/1

School For Scandal was a selection in this column when finishing second over C&D on handicap debut and I'm going back to the well again in what looks a weaker race.

He showed a fairly good level of ability when finishing second in a maiden at Wadebridge and showed glimmers of promise over hurdles before making the switch to fences for his handicap debut. He was keen to post and overshot the start but settled well enough in the race under restraint at the back of the field.

He was still in that position in a tightly packed field jumping 4 out before gradually making headway on the inside. He couldn't get close to the winner at any stage but ran on well to finish second, five lengths clear of the third.

School For Scandal was racing from 10lb out of the handicap that day and although he's 2lb out of the handicap today, he's effectively racing off a 3lb lower mark than he did that day. The winner of that race had suggested he could be capable of being much better than his mark while the third had run with promise over a longer trip previously and I think it was a stronger race than the one he contests today.

I'm hoping that they don't ride him quite so patiently today as there's nowhere near as much early speed in this race and he saw out the two-mile trip well so there shouldn't be any concerns over his stamina if riding him much handier.

There is the worry that he could repeat his pre-race antics from last time and it might be that Blumen Glory will eventually fulfil the promise he showed earlier in his career now back down to this trip and over fences but I think School For Scandal has more to come and any 4/1 or bigger appeals.