Question

Based on the below markup, how (in JQuery) would i select the options that start with Urgent- or Urgent - ?

<select name="List1" id="list1">
<option>One</option>
<option>Two</option>
<option>urgent-Three</option>
<option>Urgent-Four</option>
<option>Urgent - Five</option>
</select> 

Based on the answer below I am using the following JQuery to wrap the matched elements in an <optgroup>.

$opts = $("#list1 > option").filter(function() {
    return /^Urgent\s?-/.test(this.innerHTML);
});

$opts.wrapAll('<optgroup label="Urgent">'); 

I need to remove the matched text from the option text resulting in markup like this:-

    <select name="List1" id="list1">
    <option>One</option>
    <option>Two</option>
    <optgroup label="Urgent">
    <option>Three</option>
    <option>Four</option>
    <option>Five</option>
    </optgroup>
    </select> 

Answer 1

You can use filter method and regular expressions:

$("#list1 > option").filter(function() {
    return /^Urgent\s?-/.test(this.innerHTML);
});

DEMO: http://jsfiddle.net/th83R/

---

UPDATE. To follow your updated question, you have to modify the code a bit.

$("#list1 > option").filter(function() {
    var newVal = this.innerHTML.replace(/^urgent\s?-\s?/i, "");
    if (newVal != this.innerHTML) {
        this.innerHTML = newVal;
        return true;
    }
    return false;
}).wrapAll('<optgroup label="Urgent" />');​

DEMO: http://jsfiddle.net/th83R/3/