19:55 Worcester

Tuesday 29 August 2023

All16:4017:1517:4518:2018:5519:2519:55

Richard Hitchings Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:55 | Winning time: 5m 56.40s

Woodie Flash^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 103| CD

12/1

£20,000 purchase after getting off the mark in Irish points at the second attempt in February. Made it third time lucky over hurdles when taking C&D maiden last month but more needed now sent handicapping off what looks a pretty stern opening mark.

Form: 41-221

Red Happy^b,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 102

7/1

Scored 3 times (all 3m plus) in 2022, bagging handicap chases off much higher marks than this either side of landing the odds in a weak novice hurdle at Southwell. Not in anything like the same form so far this year, though, and it's easy to have reservations at present.

Form: 3640-36

Judge Earle^p¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 100| CD

7/2

Prolific over fences last summer, winning 5 times, and back in the groove when landing handicap chases at Uttoxeter and here (both over 2½m) last month. Just touched off over 23.8f at Perth recently and he has to be feared back in this sphere off an attractive mark.

Form: 265112

Aki Bomaye²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: Jack Jones| OR: 99

7/1

Winner of sole start between the flags but 0-9 under Rules for the Tizzards. Still, he needs a second look in the betting starting out for an in-form, predominantly Flat-orientated yard which boasts a good strike rate over jumps, plus he has the assistance of Harry Cobden.

Form: 54/4PFP-

Lighthouse Mill²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 99

12/1

Has been thriving this spring/summer, scoring over 2¾m at Stratford in June and hitting the crossbar on his next 2 starts. Wasn't disgraced off this career-high mark at Bangor (19.6f, good) last time and each-way shout eased slightly in class here.

Form: 321224

Classic Concorde^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 94| D

7/2

On a long losing run but has resumed in this sphere in good form, runner-up in C&D handicaps either side of finishing a creditable third at Uttoxeter. Mark unchanged and this 10-y-o is likely to give another good account.

Form: 41P232

Best Mate Dave⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 88| C

9/2

After 6 months off, showed much more than previously when successful on his handicap debut here (2½m, good) in June. However, he was suited by the way the race developed and more will be needed back up in trip off a 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 85/050-1

Off The Planet^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: J Tickle| OR: 87

25/1

Record became distinctly patchy for Philip Hobbs and while he posted his best effort for a while when third of 11 over C&D on second start for new yard here last month, others basically look stronger.

Form: R-2R073

Inspector Lynley⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 79

10/1

No impact in bumpers/novice hurdles but has made the frame both completed starts in handicaps over 2½m here. Still, he'll need to improve for this step up in trip if he's to open his account.

Form: 4P0-U43

Non-Runners

Blue Sans⁵⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: F O'Brien J: Tom Broughton

Masterdream¹⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Getthepot²⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Bryony Frost

Forecasts

Classic Concorde (7/2), Judge Earle (7/2), Best Mate Dave (9/2), Blue Sans (13/2), Red Happy (7/1), Aki Bomaye (7/1), Inspector Lynley (10/1), Masterdream (10/1), Woodie Flash (12/1), Lighthouse Mill (12/1), Getthepot (14/1), Off The Planet (25/1)

If able to reproduce something akin to his recent chase form back in this sphere, JUDGE EARLE will surely take plenty of stopping off a potentially lenient hurdles mark. Aki Bomaye clearly has a fair bit to prove but he's interesting on debut for the Jack Jones yard with Harry Cobden booked, and market confidence behind this 8-y-o should be heeded. Classic Concorde is third choice ahead of the hat-trick seeking Blue Sans.