19:41 Worcester

Friday 22 May 2026

All16:5717:3218:0618:4119:1119:4120:1120:41

Step Into Luxury With Purple Granite Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:41 | Winning time: 5m 41.10s

Gasmani³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: J J Burke| T: David Dennis| OR: 112

12/1

Got off the mark over hurdles at Taunton in April and posted an even better effort when chasing home Noble Blue there last time. Low-mileage 7-y-o receives a healthy pull at the weights with that rival here and needs considering.

Form: 443/912-

Lightfingered Jack²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 111

6/1

Hails from a very good jumping family and while he could only run to a similar level as on debut when third in a Warwick maiden (19f) last time, it's reasonable to think he could do better now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 2053-

Prince Imperial^p,t⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 110

100/1

Pulled up on 3 of 4 of his starts for current yard and cheekpieces go back on, having look temperamental at Haydock in early March.

Form: 630PPP-

I'm A Starman³⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: M G Rimell| OR: 110| CD

14/1

Veteran eight-time hurdle winner (including a pair of C&D wins last year) was unsuited by the emphasis on speed on return at Hereford and should benefit from the return to this track.

Form: 773845-

Noble Blue³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 109

11/2

Having been shaping up well for new connections, he notched a belated first success when seeing off Gasmani by a length at Taunton last time, and the way he travelled on that occasion suggests there could be more to come.

Form: 1122U1-

Betty's Tiara¹⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 107| D

12/1

Runner-up twice here before getting off the mark in a 5-runner novice at Uttoxeter in September. Lost her way at the end of last year, though, and probably needs further respite from the handicapper.

Form: 221346-

Snowy Evening^p¹⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Toby Wynne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

8/1

Hasn't stood much racing in recent seasons and typically didn't find much in the finish when fourth of 8 in a handicap chase at Aintree on Boxing Day. 5 lb lower over hurdles, though, and has gone well fresh previously.

Form: 1413/P4-

Twist Of Fatecatch^p⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Dylan Johnston| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

3/1

Fontwell maiden hurdle winner who ran well on his only previous start here and shaped as though ready for a step back up in trip when fourth of 8 at Wincanton (21f) last time. Looks interesting off a handy mark.

Form: 255404-

Dexperts Opinion^p1²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: M Bowen| OR: 107

12/1

Fair winner of a 19f handicap hurdle who finished down the field at Fontainebleau on final start for M. Seror last October. Subsequently sold for €13,000 and the market should offer plenty of clues on first start for his new yard.

Form: P61007-

Dearkeithandkaty^p³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 106| BF

5/1

Off the mark on first try over 3m at Musselburgh in February but has proved consistent rather than progressive since, finishing runner-up for the third consecutive race (wore first-time cheekpieces) at Newton Abbot (3¼m) last time.

Form: 421222-

Herbygoesbananas¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 97

17/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o hasn't matched his fair bumper form over hurdles but did make more impact than previously when third on handicap debut at Fontwell (2¾m), shaping as though this slightly longer trip could be within range.

Form: 1/4663-3

Non-Runners

Blue In The West¹³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: B Lund J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Twist Of Fatecatch (3/1), Dearkeithandkaty (5/1), Noble Blue (11/2), Lightfingered Jack (6/1), Snowy Evening (8/1), Herbygoesbananas (17/2), Dexperts Opinion (12/1), Betty's Tiara (12/1), Gasmani (12/1), I'm A Starman (14/1), Blue In The West (16/1), Prince Imperial (100/1)

A competitive event that may go the way of TWIST OF FATECATCH who ran well on handicap debut at this course last year and may be able to capitalise on his falling mark. There wasn't much to separate Noble Blue and Gasmani at Taunton last time, with both expected to go well again.