June 15 / 19.20 Worcester

19.20

Good

David Hewston Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 7f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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David Hewston Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: P349-2

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Has a patchy record, with sole win in handicaps (ten attempts) coming over 3m1f on good at Plumpton in January 2022; creditable placings in two of his four starts this year, including when front-running at Huntingdon on latest; faces only four rivals and has tongue tied first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

20th Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

15:15 Listowel

Scarpia

11st 4lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

Three-time hurdle winner for Nicky Henderson including at Worcester over 2m7f when last seen in June; this is more competitive but could run well.

14/1

1st

3

15th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

19:20 Worcester

Scarpia

11st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has a patchy record, with sole win in handicaps (ten attempts) coming over 3m1f on good at Plumpton in January 2022; creditable placings in two of his four starts this year, including when front-running at Huntingdon on latest; faces only four rivals and has tongue tied first time.

3/1

5/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 60466/

Last run: 450 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Not the most straightforward or reliable and his hurdles form went downhill two seasons back for this yard; underperformed in his four Flat runs last year for John Gallagher; now back with Fergal O'Brien and well handicapped with any sort of a revival, so he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Polish

11st 8lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Exposed 10yo who doesn't find it easy to win (last success over hurdles was in February 2021); has run creditably on last two starts (3m, soft); each-way chance.

16/1

10th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Polish

11st 8lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Exposed 10yo who doesn't find it easy to win (last success over hurdles was in February 2021); has run creditably on last two starts (3m, soft); each-way chance.

16/1

4th

8

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

12:30 Haydock

Polish

11st 2lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: 5P0-91

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Comfortably made all in four-runner Stratford race (3m2f, good to firm) 12 days ago, just as he did on good ground last May just before a good C&D second; not much to cheer about in between but that was usually in much stronger races; back up 6lb but case can certainly be made with so few rivals today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Shantou Express

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Five-time hurdle winner; seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces (retained) when very respectable third at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) this month but has become too inconsistent to rely upon.

12/1

3rd

5

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:48 Stratford

Shantou Express

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

5-32 over hurdles (2m-3m2f), including on good to firm; first run back from a break in April was encouraging but he's gone backwards since and has to be forgiven a poor effort latest; on a fair mark if first-time cheekpieces help.

14/1

7th

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Shantou Express

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Possible to say he's been temptingly handicapped for a while now, but dropping into a 0-110 here for just the second time; some hope if getting a less contested lead than last time (C&D), which isn't a given.

12/1

Form: 1121-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Five chase wins in the last 13 months or so, all in two or three-runner races; the latest was in April, before a lesser show when switched to hurdles (first hurdle start since March 2022) in first-time cheekpieces over 2m4f at Plumpton last month; needs better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Worcester

Hell Red

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

All five wins over fences when trained by Paul Nicholls in 2022-23; won a point in May 2024; pulled up on first chase run since at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good to soft; 22-1) last month; hard to fancy.

33/1

1

5th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Hell Red

12st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Capable hurdler/chaser for Paul Nicholls; has been holding his own in hunter chases and he's still only an 8yo; may prefer longer trips these days.

12/1

1

5th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Hell Red

12st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Capable hurdler/chaser for Paul Nicholls; has been holding his own in hunter chases and he's still only an 8yo; may prefer longer trips these days.

12/1

Form: F16P8- CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Sometimes front-runner; his wins in spring 2021 included two over C&D; had four rivals to beat when he scored at Uttoxeter last July off today's mark; well below form in his three runs since but should be a lot more interesting today than he was seven weeks ago after 186 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:48 Worcester

Butlers Brief

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Successful in a division of this race in 2021 but that was the middle leg of a hat-trick; not in same form at present, having performed poorly in two runs since Bangor win in October.

20/1

7th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:48 Worcester

Butlers Brief

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Successful in a division of this race in 2021 but that was the middle leg of a hat-trick; not in same form at present, having performed poorly in two runs since Bangor win in October.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.20
Straight Forecast £19.30
Trifecta £43.20

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Scarpia

SPOTLIGHT:

Shantou Express

Telegraph:

Hell Red

LAMBOURN:

Scarpia

The Times:

Scarpia

The Guardian:

Scarpia

D Express:

Scarpia

The Sun:

Scarpia

Daily Record:

Scarpia

RP RATINGS:

Shantou Express

POSTDATA:

Shantou Express

WEST COUNTRY:

Shantou Express

Daily Mail:

Shantou Express

Daily Mirror:

Shantou Express

The Star:

Shantou Express