18:48 Worcester

Tuesday 6 May 2025

All17:4818:1818:4819:1819:4820:18

Blackmores Building Contractors Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:51 | Winning time: 5m 43.00s

Icare Allen^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122| D

28/1

Scored at Uttoxeter in November but he isn't proving the easiest to catch right and came in just 11th in handicap hurdle at Ayr (3m) 25 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 717290-

Party Business^p³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117| BF

6/1

It's now 16 runs since his last win in 2022 and he came in a below-form seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, good to soft) 38 days ago. He's hard to warm to.

Form: 73PP57-

Ebony Warrior^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 117| C

1/1

Course winner who also bagged 5-runner novice hurdle (5/6) at Warwick (21f, good) 40 days ago. Can go very well again on just his second run in handicap company.

Form: 122231-

Earth King^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116| D

5/1

Resumed winning ways in 13-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, good to soft) in October. Off since but he can't be discounted with his yard going well.

Form: P/14581-

Ernest Gray^p1¹⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 116WS

14/1

Failed to build on a good Warwick second when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (24.4f, good to soft) in December. Since had a wind op so not discounted off a lenient mark with cheekpieces replacing a visor.

Form: 42/652P-

Shantou Express²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 114

7/1

On a losing run but he posted a solid third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Bangor (23.2f, good) 24 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 6/P6243-

Rockadenn^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: M Comley| OR: 113

14/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at his best for previous yards and showed more than previously for current yard in first-time cheekpieces when runner-up at at Southwell (24.3f, good) in March. Needs to back that up here.

Form: 4D8/652-

Butler's Brief^p³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 110| CD

12/1

Scored at Bangor in October but well below par at Warwick and Wetherby since, though he might have needed the run after 4 months off on latter occasion. This C&D scorer is no forlorn hope.

Form: 6731P9-

Slip Of The Tongue^b,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Toby Wynne| T: S-J Davies| OR: 104

150/1

Ended time with Padraig Roche in Ireland out of sorts and has fared no better for current connections this season. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: PPPP48-

Non-Runners

Halifax²¹⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: G Harris J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ebony Warrior (1/1), Earth King (5/1), Party Business (6/1), Shantou Express (7/1), Butler's Brief (12/1), Ernest Gray (14/1), Rockadenn (14/1), Halifax (16/1), Icare Allen (28/1), Slip Of The Tongue (150/1)

Course scorer EBONY WARRIOR should have more to offer on only his second venture into handicaps so looks the way to go here. The returning Earth King could emerge as the main danger for his in-form handler, although Shantou Express and Ernest Gray both command respect too in an open handicap.