17:10 Worcester

Wednesday 18 June 2025

All14:4015:1515:5016:3017:1017:4018:20

Worcester Balloon Festival Is Back Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 3m 44.27s

Click On The Link⁴⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barlow

18/1

€30,000 3-y-o, Mount Nelson gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser Regina Dracones, stays 3¾m, and fair chaser Calvic. Failed to complete both starts in Irish points last year.

Form: B/F-

Gordon Grey^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse

7/2

Fair 10f winner on Flat this year. Runner-up in 2m Fakenham maiden hurdle when last seen in this sphere in November so merits serious consideration.

Form: 6U2-

Jorah²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

5/1

Encouraging fourth of 8 in novice hurdle (4/1) over C&D (good to soft) on NH debut 26 days ago. Should have more to offer. Not ruled out for top yard.

Form: 4

Ocean Walz¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson

12/1

Runner-up in three bumpers but failed to match that in a pair of maiden hurdles for Tom Symonds at Hereford and Doncaster either side of Christmas. Needs this yard switch to spark a resurgence.

Form: 22/280-

Belcamo^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 101

4/1

Got back on track in a first-time hood when third of 7 in novice hurdle at Warwick (16f, good) 14 days ago. Not discounted in his bid for a first win in this sphere.

Form: 247-3

Elusive Feeling^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

33/1

Had wind op and tongue strap on for 1st time when fell 2 out (well held) in novice hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, good) on hurdles bow 34 days ago. Lots more required.

Form: 0-F

Notnoweve⁴³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill

66/1

€7,000 3-y-o, £8,000 5-y-o, Notnowcato mare. Half-sister to fair hurdler/chaser Little Red Lion and fair 3m chase winner Port O'Clock. Dam point winner. Runner-up in an Irish point last April so she's no forlorn hope now going hurdling.

Form: P2/

She's A Woman¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: Ella Pickard

250/1

Little show in a pair of bumpers and maiden hurdles, seventh of 8 over C&D 11 days ago. Lots more is required.

Form: 0-6F7

Amber Waves⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle

6/4

Fair form shown when second in a pair of bumpers at Huntingdon in the spring. Very much one to consider now going over hurdles.

Form: 22-

Non-Runners

George Sansevero¹⁹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: B Lund J: Non Runner

Twirling²³⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Twirling (11/10), Amber Waves (6/4), Gordon Grey (7/2), Belcamo (4/1), Jorah (5/1), Ocean Walz (12/1), Click On The Link (18/1), Elusive Feeling (33/1), Notnoweve (66/1), George Sansevero (100/1), She's A Woman (250/1)

Nicky Henderson's newcomer TWIRLING was a useful scorer on the level so is fancied to go in at the first time of asking now sent hurdling. Gordon Grey found only one too good when last seen in this sphere at Fakenham in November and arrives fit from the Flat so must enter calculations, while debutante Amber Waves and C&D debut fourth Jorah appeal as the pick of the rest in the battle for minor honours.