July 24 / 14.55 Worcester

14.55

Good

Widmer Ltd Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Widmer Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £13.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 644-53 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Regressive and inconsistent 9yo who was just a respectable third in first-time blinkers (retained) at Bangor (2m3f, good) three weeks ago and remains without a win since April 2024; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Grey Skies

11st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Won twice in blinkers on good ground last summer (2m/2m1f) but was given a break after two disappointing runs in the autumn and made a low-key return without blinkers last month; has blinkers back on today but needs to get back in the groove.

20/1

7th

7

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

19:00 Hereford

Grey Skies

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Two wins last summer (2m/2m1f, good), the latest off just a 1lb lower mark; form has dipped in his last two races, at Cheltenham and then Carlisle where he should have run better; absent since November.

12/1

15

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 3

14:25 Cheltenham

Grey Skies

10st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Perked up by blinkers this summer, winning twice, but faded into third after setting the pace in run-of-the-mill Worcester handicap (2m, good) last month and is patently not the force of old.

25/1

5/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: -31421 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner this season; appeared to take form to whole new level when cosily fending off a next-time-out winner over C&D (good; front pair well clear) three weeks ago and could still be well treated after recent 8lb rise (due to go up another 2lb soon).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Worcester

Scintillante

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Won twice here last summer and some sign of a return to form when fourth at Warwick last week; this mark isn't a gift but has each-way claims.

4/1

4th

8

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Scintillante

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Won twice at Worcester last summer but below his best on his last two starts and needs to come down a few pounds.

20/1

6th

6

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Scintillante

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alastair Ralph

5lb out of the weights and 50-1 when well beaten in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on final run in October; his earlier races were more realistic than that and he ran well; solid chance if fitness doesn't hold him back.

13/2

OUR TIP

12/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 24239- D

Last run: 221 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Placed four times on the Flat this year; not seen over hurdles since finding 2m4f on good to soft too taxing in December but today's trip-and-ground combination ought to suit him better, and his current mark is workable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(3)

7th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 6

16:00 Windsor

Douglas Dc

9st 7lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Tony Carroll

Still without a win on the Flat and he's been off since a below-par 11th over hurdles at Newbury in November; needs to take a big step forward after a break.

16/1

7th

3

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:45 Worcester

Douglas Dc

11st 13lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Tony Carroll

Stuck on a losing run but has to warrant a second look after his recent second over C&D.

10/1

Form: 59-322

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Back from layoff with three good runs this season, the latest a close second at Market Rasen (2m, soft) 18 days ago; also suited by good ground; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

17:00 Musselburgh

Spot On Soph

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Tailed off at Market Rasen in November and same story at Catterick last month on her sole run since; however, she may have needed that latest outing and runs off the same mark as for her win at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) in September; yard's horses are running well and she's not discounted.

7/1

7th

7

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 3

15:30 Catterick

Spot On Soph

10st 9lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Tailed off at Market Rasen in November last time, but she'd enjoyed a predominantly consistent spell previously and maybe a break will have helped; has won here twice over fences; not ruled out on her return.

10/1

Form: 326-15 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Gained all three wins at Ludlow (2m, good), the most recent in May; safely held off this career-high mark at Southwell last month (respiratory noise reported) and is away from his favourite track again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:03 Uttoxeter

Zucayan

11st 12lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: Fergal O’Brien

Gained all three hurdle wins at Ludlow; kept on for second behind progressive rival there (2m, good) last month, after a break, but may not be ideally suited by this switch to a left-handed track.

9/2

2nd

5

10th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:02 Ludlow

Zucayan

11st 5lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: Fergal O’Brien

Suited by good ground; proved resurgent when last seen five months ago, enhancing a strong C&D record that also features wins (off 2lb lower) in this race in 2023 and 2025 (faller in 2024); very solid claims kept to this scenario.

9/2

9

(6)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

17:05 Nottingham

Zucayan

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Fergal O’Brien

Hurdle win in May (2m, good); poor form on the Flat since August, failing to progress for handicaps on last two starts; should benefit from the step up in trip and he has run well on soft going over hurdles; risky but there are grounds for expecting better dropped in class.

33/1

Form: 12-458 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner in summer 2022 and also on target at Market Rasen (2m2f, good) in September; returned from layoff with two fairly good runs in spring (2m/2m4f) but Uttoxeter last month was disappointing (raced too freely).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1143-7

Last run: 5 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won twice over hurdles in the autumn (2m4f/2m7f) and has been in good form on the Flat in recent weeks but was well beaten when back over hurdles on Saturday (2m; raced too freely) and has a point to prove here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Laser Focus

11st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won on the Flat in May but was safely held on both hurdling starts this year (both in 2m handicaps in July) and reverts to this code after a very poor Flat run last month; stablemate Chillhi looks a safer option.

6/1

6

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Laser Focus

9st 7lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: James Owen

Had a good run of form in 1m2f-1m5f handicaps (1423) before tailed off in his last two hurdle races and he's a dual winner in that scene; some wellbeing concerns all of a sudden.

8/1

7th

1

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Laser Focus

11st 8lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won twice over hurdles in the autumn (2m4f/2m7f) and has been in good form on the Flat in recent weeks but was well beaten when back over hurdles on Saturday (2m; raced too freely) and has a point to prove here.

16/1

Form: 88/1 CD

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Left a poor Flar run behind when keeping on strongly to cause 66-1 surprise in C&D novice hurdle (good to soft) last month; evidently in good nick but the value of that form is open to question and she probably needs a better performance to overcome her opening handicap mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

17:17 Plumpton

Chelsea Annie

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Caused 66-1 shock in Worcester novice (2m, good to soft) in June but very little has gone to plan since; struggled in two recent handicaps (2m1f/2m) and is not bred to benefit from this big hike up in trip; too risky.

33/1

10th

7

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

17:30 Chepstow

Chelsea Annie

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Caused 66-1 shock in Worcester novice (2m, good to soft) in June but very little has gone to plan since and she was well beaten on latest outing three weeks ago; sports refitted tongue-tie/cheekpieces here; too risky.

33/1

6th

4

19th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

15:48 Newton Abbot

Chelsea Annie

11st 10lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Caused 66-1 shock in Worcester (2m, good to soft) in June but was well beaten before last-flight fall there on handicap debut in July and lost all chance when virtually refusing to race on the Flat last week; too risky.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.80
Straight Forecast £32.19
Tricast £197.19
Trifecta £219.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Scintillante

POSTDATA:

Douglas Dc

WEST COUNTRY:

Zucayan

The Sun:

Grey Skies

Telegraph:

Douglas Dc

RP RATINGS:

Scintillante

TOPSPEED:

Scintillante

The Times:

Scintillante

The Guardian:

Scintillante

Daily Mail:

Scintillante

D Express:

Scintillante

Daily Mirror:

Scintillante

The Star:

Scintillante

Daily Record:

Scintillante