16:10 Ludlow

Wednesday 22 February 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:1016:4517:20

Alfa Aggregates Products Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 0.4s

Applesandpierres^b1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

20/1

Former winning pointer who makes only his seventh start under rules today despite his age. Ran well enough at Wetherby two starts ago over a trip that may not have suited, and was well in touch when falling at the eighth of 13 on his chase debut last time. This is easier than some of his previous hurdle races and he can go close. Blinkers on.

Form: 13FF21-

I'm A Game Changer⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 122

4/1

Has been progressive over hurdles so far leading up to a 7L win in a novice hurdle at Bangor last time. Opening mark is fair on handicap debut based on that last performance and he looks a key player in this.

Form: R8-8311

Bingo D'Olivate^p1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Aspell| T: Noel Williams| OR: 121

25/1

Only modest performances during a relatively brief career so far with the form of his sole win from nine starts looking questionable. Pulled up the last twice but not given much help by the handicapper here, and others look much more appealing. Cheek pieces applied.

Form: 5PP8F-6

Canadian Diamond²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 120

10/1

Showed some decent form over jumps last season, though mostly on ground slower than this. Has been excellent on the Flat recently, completing a hat-trick on the all weather, but those have looked weak races, and his mark in that sphere is possibly a little lenient. Interesting now back over hurdles.

Form: 4413-49

Nachi Falls^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125

16/1

Down in class today having struggled at Listed level last time, but remains 6lb higher than his previous win and hasn't shown enough to suggest that he can overcome that in a race such as this.

Form: 311143

Dino Velvet²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 125

10/3

French Flat import who has made an unlucky start to his jumps career, bumping into some high quality juvenile hurdlers. Unlikely to face anything of that ilk today and looks to be a leading contender for a trainer having a decent season.

Form: F142

Stamp Your Feet²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 115

3/1

Ran well in bumpers and novice hurdles before making a winning handicap debut at Hereford two starts ago. Has excuses for his fourth placed disappointment at Musselburgh since and could bounce back today.

Form: 231431

Hill Fort^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 108

10/1

Hasn't gotten close to the leaders since hist last win at Chepstow last April (2m, soft), but was travelling much better when a mistake put paid to his chances at Leicester last time out. Will still need to find something extra to be competitive here, however.

Form: 96420-2

Ashoka^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

66/1

Won a weak race on hurdling debut but his form has been anything but encouraging since and if anything looks regressive. Handicap mark still looks far too high for him to be competitive based on recent evidence.

Form: P0611-3

Borak⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 106

16/1

Always had a hard time of things in handicaps, including when beaten 42L by Applesandpierres at Uttoxeter in December. Better off in the weights today but still has it all to do on that evidence.

Form: 377375

Le Braye²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: David England| T: D Skelton| OR: 105

16/1

Looks to be the stable's third string on jockey bookings and it's not difficult to see why based on form. One of the only positives is his age and inexperience, meaning that he could still be unexposed.

Form: 08530F-

Tikkinthebox^h,t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 105

33/1

Makes his handicap debut today, but on the basis of his form in novice and maiden hurdles and a bumper, this opening mark is likely to prove too challenging for him in this company.

Form: 709

Non-Runners

Thunder Sheik⁶⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: William Twiston-Davies

Isaac Bell⁴⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: A M Hales J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Stamp Your Feet (3/1), Dino Velvet (10/3), I'm A Game Changer (4/1), Hill Fort (10/1), Canadian Diamond (10/1), Isaac Bell (14/1), Le Braye (16/1), Borak (16/1), Nachi Falls (16/1), Thunder Sheik (16/1), Applesandpierres (20/1), Bingo D'Olivate (25/1), Tikkinthebox (33/1), Ashoka (66/1)

There are a few in with chances here in what looks a competitive handicap hurdle but where there may not be a particularly quick pace early on. STAMPYOURFEET has excuses for his poor run at Musselburgh last time and other than that has run well in just about every race he's had so far. He seems to be progressive and looks to one to beat. Among those with the best chance of serving it up to Paddy Brennan's mount are Dino Velvet, who has not always had everything his way during his short career so far and looks unexposed, as well as I'm A Game Changer, who impressed at Bangor last time. 1. Stamp Your Feet 2. Dino Velvet 3. I'm A Game Changer