16:00 Worcester

Thursday 25 July 2024

All14:1814:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Berkley Care Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 59.53s

Ballywood³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 110| D

200/1

Very useful chaser at his peak for Alan King but well beaten in a C&D handicap hurdle for new trainer Georgie Howell after a whopping 38 months on the sidelines. Can only watch.

Form: 66543/0

Gaelik Coast^t,p⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108| C| D

18/1

Added to mixed record when last of 5 at Fakenham last month. Blinkers worn recently are now left off and cheekpieces are fitted for only a second time.

Form: 63654-5

Privilege²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 105

100/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland who changed hands for only £2,500 in January and has been pulled up on both outings for this yard.

Form: P/459P-P

Lightfoot Lady^h1,t1⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 105| D

9/1

Bumper winner who improved on his first 2 efforts over hurdles when third of 13 in am 2m novice at Doncaster in January. Very disappointing on Hereford handicap debut in May and now equipped with a first-time headgear combination. Still early days for leading yard.

Form: 1/P53-P

Byzantine Empire^t,p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace| T: J L Flint| OR: 103| D

15/2

Back-to-back winner off higher marks over fences in summer 2022 but more miss than hit in various race-types since. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 4675-36

Dog Fox²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

11/10

Fairly useful 1¼m Flat winner for Ed Dunlop and he got off the mark in this sphere in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Bangor (17f, good) 27 days ago. Up 7 lb but he travelled strongly there and probably has more to give.

Form: 453-21

Midnight Jewel³⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 100| C

16/1

Course hurdle winner over 2½m last July and has added 3 chase wins since, the latest at Bangor (2½m) last month. Rare below-par effort when fourth of 5 at Newton Abbot since. Capable of bouncing back from his much lower hurdle mark but shorter trip is a slight worry.

Form: 1F2/414-

Zodiac Star²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 104| D

14/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Left first 2 hurdle efforts well behind when landing a 2m Stratford maiden 23 days ago. An opening mark of 104 isn't obviously generous on that bare form but he has potential as an unexposed sort.

Form: 661

Sergeant⁵³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 99| D

16/1

Consistent for Milton Harris in 2022/23 season, including a 2m Stratford handicap win. Has a 17-month absence to overcome on this first outing for Harriet Dickin.

Form: 14F254/

Right Now²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 102

5/1

Cut little ice in 2 juvenile hurdles for Sheila Lewis at the end of 2023 but struck on Market Rasen handicap debut for new trainer Rebecca Menzies last month and backed that up when third at Uttoxeter 25 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 668-13

Kentucky Bluegrass⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 100

18/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for David O'Meara and left his previous hurdling efforts behind when third in a Hereford maiden in May. Didn't make much impact in a Uttoxeter handicap last month ago but he's not discounted given his ability on the level.

Form: 85-37

Getaway Jewel⁹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 83| D

20/1

Ready winner over fences at Southwell last summer. Has struggled over the larger obstacles lately and now switches to hurdles in a bid to revive her fortunes. Potentially well treated and all 4 career wins have come when partnered by Brian Hughes. No shock were she to go well.

Form: 2P7768-

Non-Runners

Parikarma³⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: J L Flint J: Cameron Iles

Forecasts

Dog Fox (11/10), Parikarma (9/2), Right Now (5/1), Byzantine Empire (15/2), Lightfoot Lady (9/1), Zodiac Star (14/1), Sergeant (16/1), Midnight Jewel (16/1), Kentucky Bluegrass (18/1), Gaelik Coast (18/1), Getaway Jewel (20/1), Privilege (100/1), Ballywood (200/1)

The way DOG FOX travelled at Bangor suggests he could have more to offer so he's selected to make light of a 7 lb rise. Right Now has made a good start for the Rebecca Menzies stable and is second choice ahead of Alan King's Stratford maiden winner Zodiac Star, who brings unexposed potential to this handicap hurdle debut.