17:00 Worcester

Monday 1 July 2024

All14:2514:5515:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Radio Wyvern, Where Worcester Comes First Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 3m 49.5s

The Sad Shepherd³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: A Ralph| OR: 98

9/2

Posted much his best effort for this yard when third in handicap at Stratford (18.7f) in May and filled the same position at Bangor (16.7f, good) 3 days ago, despite having not always been fluent. Can make his presence felt.

Form: U267-33

Afta Party^b¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 97

15/2

Opened his hurdles account in a Newton Abbot novice (16.8f) in October and, after a couple of lesser efforts, has shown better signs in handicaps at the same C&D on his last 2 starts. On a workable mark based on the pick of his form on the Flat.

Form: 3178-67

Gerard Mentor^v,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 95| D

7/1

Winless since scoring 4 times in 2022 but took a step back in the right direction when fourth at Ludlow in May. Wasn't able to build on that effort at Market Rasen (16.6f, good) last time, though made a bad mistake 3 out so he's not one to write off.

Form: 2690-46

Electric Eddy²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 94

2/1

Signs of ability for Prunella Dobbs in Ireland and has been going the right way in 3 starts for his current yard, third in handicap at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good) on his latest outing. Could be ready to open his account with more still to offer.

Form: 7594-73

Caldwell⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 94| BF| D

14/1

Won twice at Southwell on the Flat over the winter for Ivan Furtado, but back over hurdles he could finish only fifth of 9 in selling handicap at Fakenham (16f, good) on his stable debut 55 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: PP/P5P-5

Virginia Lodge¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 96| DWS

14/1

Proved a different proposition to her debut when winning junior hurdle at Fakenham in November. Hasn't been able to repeat that effort in 2 starts since, but it still remains early days for her leading yard as she goes handicapping (has had a wind op).

Form: 01P7-

Ferrybridge^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C P O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 92| D

17/2

Winning hurdler who opened his chase account at the third attempt at Huntingdon in March, albeit left clear at the last. Rare below-par effort at Stratford 13 days ago, but no surprise to see him bounce back returned to hurdling.

Form: 15-3226

Jysuis²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S G West| OR: 90

18/1

Placed all 3 starts in bumpers in France but yet to finish better than mid-field for his current yard, failing to improve for the switch to handicaps when eighth of 13 at Southwell (15.8f, good) 20 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 309-68

What A Flirth¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 90

40/1

Runner-up in an Irish point and showed some ability on her hurdles debut. Hasn't gone on from that in her 2 subsequent outings, leaving D. E. Prendergast/off 11 months prior to her latest run at Hexham 16 days ago. Could yet do better in handicaps, though.

Form: 25/79-9

Maggie O^t⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 85

15/2

Irish point winner who got off the mark in this sphere on the back of a breathing op in handicap at Doncaster (16.6f) in November. However, has been below that level since, making little impression at Ludlow (21.2f, good) when last seen in April.

Form: 714F47-

Non-Runners

Kentucky Bluegrass²⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 4

T: N J Hawke J: Lorcan Murtagh

Logistical¹⁹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: S Hodgson J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Electric Eddy (2/1), The Sad Shepherd (9/2), Gerard Mentor (7/1), Afta Party (15/2), Maggie O (15/2), Ferrybridge (17/2), Kentucky Bluegrass (10/1), Caldwell (14/1), Virginia Lodge (14/1), Jysuis (18/1), Logistical (25/1), What A Flirth (40/1)

ELECTRIC EDDY seems to be building up to something for Nigel Twiston-Davies, producing his best effort when third at Newton Abbot last time (the winner scored again on his next outing), so he is taken to get off the mark this time around. The Sad Shepherd has returned to form on his last 2 starts and could be the biggest threat, ahead of Afta Party.