August 20 / 20.00 Worcester

20.00

Good

Martin Keighley Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Martin Keighley Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 54-112 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Revitalised veteran who returned from a layoff with two good-ground wins this season (2m/2m3f) and lost out only by a neck at Stratford (2m2f, good to firm) last time; runs this track well; no surprise if he's right in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

15:40 Stratford

GDay Aussie

12st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Veteran who returned from a break with two good-ground wins (2m/2m3f) in June/July; gave another solid account when fourth at Bangor (2m3f, good) last month but he didn't fire at Plumpton last time and others are more persuasive.

14/1

6th

2

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

14:50 Plumpton

GDay Aussie

11st 12lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Resurgent veteran who returned from a break with two good-ground wins in June/July (2m/2m3f); gave another good account when fourth at Bangor (2m3f, good) this month but may find younger rivals better handicapped here.

10/1

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:30 Bangor-on-Dee

GDay Aussie

11st 12lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Dave Roberts

Veteran who was well below par last time; solid record (112) otherwise this term includes a C&D win (good) in July; may rebound, albeit has more on his plate off current mark.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 76-F42

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent and regressive 9yo who was tailed off when second on his latest outing (bled from the nose); too well handicapped to rule out but would appeal much more on slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Royal Rhythm

11st 4lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Winless since 2023 and he's been off the track since pulled up in 3m handicap in November; on a useful mark if resurgent after a break.

11/1

5th

2

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:58 Worcester

Royal Rhythm

11st 11lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Lost out only by a nose to Orange Diamond over C&D (good) in August but was not quite in same form when fifth behind same rival here last month and has become far too inconsistent to rely upon.

10/1

Form: 273-33 BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent for Maurice Barnes since last spring; last of three in tactical race here (2m, good) for new stable last month but wasn't beaten far and today's longer trip won't be a problem; remains open to improvement for Olly Murphy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Kopa Kilana

10st 11lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Is 0-29 over hurdles and he ran poorly in a refitted tongue tie when ninth of 11 in 2m Wetherby handicap hurdle 15 days ago; it's easy to look elsewhere.

33/1

9th

7

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Wetherby

Kopa Kilana

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Runner-up twice in a row at Perth (2m4f, good) in September but struggled on final two starts for Olly Murphy and it was the same story on his stable debut in November; returns from a break with something to prove.

25/1

3

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Kopa Kilana

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-25 over hurdles but has posted some good efforts for new stable since the summer, most recently when second at Perth (2m4f, good) last month; also suited by slower ground; probably won't be far away.

3/1

Form: 5P6-21 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Arrested decline with C&D second for Clive Boultbee-Brooks in May and went one better over C&D (also on good) for new stable last month; did that comfortably in the end and commands respect off today's 7lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Orange Diamond

11st 7lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Has record of 11142132 for his current yard, with those first three wins over hurdles at Worcester (2m4f) and his last success over fences at Market Rasen (2m7f); up another 3lb after his second over hurdles at Warwick (2m3f, good) last month, but he went down fighting after making a mistake at the last; could still have more to offer and he's a big player.

100/30

2nd

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Orange Diamond

11st 9lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: T Ellis

Three hurdle wins (2m4f; good and good to soft) in the middle of 2025, then made a winning return to fences at Market Rasen (3m) in December; not so effective on soft next time but has a weights chance back hurdling.

9/1

3rd

2

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Orange Diamond

12st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Record of PPPPF over fences in 2023-24 but travelled strongly and mostly jumped fine returned to them at Market Rasen on Boxing Day (3m, good to soft), he and the runner-up pulling 17l and more clear; this is a warmer 0-100, but a 5lb rise isn't prohibitive next to his recent RPRs.

100/30

Form: P6-2PP D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Useful in his prime but has dropped a long way down the weights since the start of last season; pulled up over fences on last two appearances and can't be supported with any confidence on this return to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Calagogo

10st 7lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Stephen Allen

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles (2m4f-2m7f) for Denise Foster in the summer of 2021, but has shown precious little since including in 12 starts for this yard; look elsewhere.

66/1

15

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Calagogo

10st 7lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Stephen Allen

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles (2m4f-2m7f) for Denise Foster in the summer of 2021, but has shown precious little since including in 12 starts for this yard; look elsewhere.

66/1

15

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Calagogo

10st 7lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Stephen Allen

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles (2m4f-2m7f) for Denise Foster in the summer of 2021, but has shown precious little since including in 12 starts for this yard; look elsewhere.

66/1

Form: 4667

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
1-13 on the Flat in Ireland; still unexposed over hurdles after only four runs but was safely held when 66-1 for last month's handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good); moves up in trip with cheekpieces refitted here; considered only if much stronger in the betting this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:41 Worcester

Dynamite Defense

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won over 1m on the Flat in Ireland in 2024, but Olly Murphy was unable to get a win out of him in five runs over hurdles and two on the Flat; sold for 5,500gns to join new yard last month; best watched on stable debut.

25/1

3rd

7

(1)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dynamite Defense

9st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Olly Murphy

Gained his Irish win on AW; posted an encouraging effort, keeping-on third, at Lingfield (1m4f) returned to this sphere on seasonal debut; interesting.

7/2

3rd

4

(6)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:12 Lingfield (AW)

Dynamite Defense

10st 13lb

J: Mr Josh Myers

T: Olly Murphy

Sole win was at Dundalk (1m, AW) in September 2024 and he's been well held in five hurdle runs for current yard; has something to prove back on the Flat and this is competitive; cheekpieces removed.

9/1

Form: 50-631 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Came good with clear C&D (good) success last month, her ninth hurdling start; effectively 7lb higher today if Freddie Keighley's reduced claim is considered but could quite plausibly build upon that winning performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Worcester

Pacific

10st 13lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Came good with clear C&D (good) success last month, her ninth hurdling start; effectively 7lb higher today if Freddie Keighley's reduced claim is considered but could quite plausibly build upon that winning performance.

5/1

Form: 3434-5 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won three chases (all at Sedgefield) when trained by Chris Grant but made a low-key stable debut in June and now reverts to hurdling for first time since May 2023; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:22 Worcester

Bebside Banter

10st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Triple chase winner (all at Sedgefield); has had a couple of spins over hurdles and steps back up in trip on return to this sphere but stamina unproven.

16/1

7

7th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:12 Fontwell

Bebside Banter

10st 6lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Won three chases (all at Sedgefield) when trained by Chris Grant and bettered underwhelming stable debut when placed on hurdle return at Worcester (2m4f, good; cheekpieces refitted) last month; shortlisted.

5/1

Form: /PP-6P

Last run: 78 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when tried in today's headgear combination over 3m in June and has now been unplaced all seven starts under rules; drops back in trip here; cannot be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Worcester

Even Break

10st 3lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Rosemary Gasson

Pulled up when tried in today's headgear combination over 3m in June and has now been unplaced all seven starts under rules; drops back in trip here; cannot be recommended.

40/1

10

3rd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Even Break

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Rosemary Gasson

Well beaten over fences in his first two handicaps (3m1f/2m5f); fitted with first-time tongue-tie/blinkers for this handicap hurdle debut; huge improvement required.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £52.10
Straight Forecast £42.73
Tricast £212.33
Trifecta £362.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kopa Kilana

Telegraph:

Pacific

SPOTLIGHT:

Orange Diamond

D Express:

G'Day Aussie

Daily Mail:

Pacific

Daily Record:

Pacific

The Guardian:

Orange Diamond

POSTDATA:

Kopa Kilana

The Times:

Kopa Kilana

The Sun:

Kopa Kilana

The Star:

Kopa Kilana

Daily Mirror:

G'Day Aussie