14:15 Ludlow
Wednesday 25 January 2017
All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:30
David Byrne Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 4  |  3m 1f 125y  |  Good to Soft  |  9 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:15Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 45.30s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Record over fences has been mixed but took advantage of a falling mark to sluice up at Chepstow on his reappearance (12lb lower mark than today). Reportedly broke a blood vessel when disappointing at Doncaster next time, so has questions to answer today.
Not the easiest to catch right but was found a good opportunity over 2m4f at Bangor last time and dotted up accordingly. More to do off a 10lb higher mark in a better race, but hard to rule out if putting best foot forward.
Bagged a brace of hunter chases two seasons ago but little to shout about since then, despite an ever falling mark. Dropped a further 4lb for a dismal effort in the mud at Warwick last month (pulled-up) but still hard to fancy.
Veteran mud-lover who won successive chases this time last year. Excellent runner-up behind a progressive sort on his return and by no means disgraced when fourth at Warwick last month. Unlikely to go down without a fight.
Took advantage of a falling mark when winning over 3m here in November and was by no means disgraced off a 5lb higher mark at Wincanton next time. Lesser subsequent effort (seemed to run in snatches) at Market Rasen tempers enthusiasm.
Ended last season with a brace of hurdle victories for Micky Hammond and made an encouraging start over fences for new yard on his return. Didn't jump well when pulled-up at Chepstow last time, but too early to start writing him off.
Twice a winner over fences early last season and was a runner-up three times in the spring off higher marks than today's. Not at his best at Market Rasen most recently but ensuing 4lb drop gives him a squeak, providing the ground doesn't come up too testing.
Still lightly-raced and was having only his third chase start when a decent fourth over 3m here (good ground) in November. Sharpened up by a recent blow-out over hurdles and has scope for improvement back over fences.
Inconsistent sort who consented to put best foot forward when winning over 2m3f at Exeter last spring. Not disgraced when originally fourth there on return from a break, though subsequently disqualified after rider failed to weigh in. Others preferred.
Forecasts
Butlergrove King (7/2), Winged Crusader (5/1), Twirling Magnet (11/2), Azert De Coeur (6/1), Sunny Ledgend (7/1), Ultimatum Du Roy (8/1), Three Of A Kind (10/1), An Poc Ar Buile (16/1), Beer Goggles (20/1)
An open-looking contest in which Winged Crusader is likely to have his supporters after a facile recent win at Bangor, though this looks a deeper race. Azert De Coer had excuses for a dismal effort at Doncaster latest and would be a big danger to all if reproducing the form he showed to win at Chepstow previously, while the veteran Sunny Ledgend has shown enough to suggest there are still races to be won with him in this grade. However, if there is any value, it may lie with the lightly-raced THREE OF A KIND who was far from foot-perfect when a good fourth here on his chasing debut, leaving the impression there is much more to come from him.
1. Three Of A Kind
2. Azert De Coeur
3. Sunny Ledgend
Prize Money
1st: £5,198.002nd: £1,526.003rd: £763.004th: £382.00
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