17:30 Ludlow
Monday 3 April 2017
All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30
Ludlow Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f 55y | Good to Soft (Good in places) | 16 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 5m 12.10s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Won on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen after being unsuccessful in Irish point-to-points. Beaten in four handicap starts since then although the trip (3m1f) in the testing conditions found him out last time and he's likely to prove better over shorter trips.
Won back-to-back handicaps off lower marks at Market Rasen and Towcester before disappointing back at the latter track last time out. Likes to front run and is a strong traveller who may well appreciate and attacking ride again here.
Winner of a bumper on his debut and then scored convincingly on his second hurdles start in a Chepstow novice over 2m. Disappointed after that when a heavily-backed favourite on handicap debut off a 3lb higher mark at Sandown in December and returns after a break with the stable in much better form now and still of interest here.
Has won three of his last four races (the last two over fences) and reverts to hurdles now off a 2lb higher mark than his last win. Looks capable of further improvement but has to overcome a career high mark now.
Bumper winner (on debut) and also managed to win over hurdles in novice company at Chepstow around a year ago. Form regressed after that win though and has started to look a difficult ride and hasn't impressed with his attitude on the AW of late.
Ran a decent race over C7D on her hurdles debut and won at Towcester on her next start appreciating the test of stamina. Has failed off higher marks in handicaps since that victory and runs off her lowest career mark now.
Twice a winner over hurdles but the last win came back in 2013 and he's yet to win in handicaps despite the falling mark. Comes back from a break here but others have shown far more of late.
Worcester novice hurdle winner last summer over 2m4f who has since struggled a little in handicaps over further. Returns from an absence here over a trip that should suit better off a mark that is a career low with the trainer having a good record with his runners at this track.
Has won and run well over this C&D before with the win coming off a mark of a 100 in November. Followed that up with a decent run over C&D but was disappointing on her last run here in January when the race wasn't run to suit over slightly further.
Not seen since running in a Southwell handicap in June 2015 when with a different yard. Returns here for a new yard and off a 2lb lower mark but hard to know what to expect.
Only one win from 18 attempts over hurdles is probably a fair reflection of this one's ability although the handicapper is giving him a chance having dropped him 19lb in a year. Now 7lb below his last winning mark he shaped quite encouragingly last time out and despite the win-to-run ratio he can be given a chance here off this mark.
Was a dual winner over hurdles when trained in Ireland and has shown some ability since moving yards. Conditions were far too testing last time out but still has something to prove now even on a better surface.
Finally got off the mark over hurdles on his first start for this yard at Fontwell in January off an 8lb lower mark. Shown some steady form after that off higher marks although she did run a little below her best last time out at Newbury and more will be needed here.
Stable have been in good form of late and this will only his third start in a handicap with the handicapper having dropped him 9lb from his initial mark. Has shown ability in handicaps and is probably better than he has shown so far and given his yard it's far too soon to be writing him off.
Reported to have had a wind operation prior to winning a Bangor handicap over 2m4f in January off a mark of 84. Failed to follow up that effort last time out and it very much remains to be seen if that is a one-off run as she comes here with something to prove.
Had a couple of starts now back from a long absence (looked to need the run both times). Now running off his lowest ever mark but has never won in handicaps and others are still preferred here.
Forecasts
Utility (4/1), River Of Intrigue (11/2), Crown Hill (6/1), Thehossbehind (7/1), Midnight Target (17/2), Amron Kali (10/1), Southport (10/1), What A Diva (12/1), Pulling Power (20/1), Bold Duke (20/1), Breaking Bits (25/1), Brass Monkey (25/1), Mere Anarchy (25/1), Be Seeing You (33/1), Highland Life (33/1), Alla Svelta (50/1)
A competitive and difficult puzzle to unravel with several having chances and being of interest. With the Ian Williams yard being in good form and always to be respected in handicaps with lightly-raced sorts THEHOSSBEHIND is given a chance to get off the mark in handicaps at his third attempt. Utility certainly looks the sort to do well in this sphere and bounce back from a poor handicap debut while Bold Duke is another who looks as though he can get involved. With River Of Intrigue, What A Diva and Crown Hill all having shown the ability to win a race such as this for the grade this is a decent contest.
- Thehossbehind
- Utility
- Bold Duke
Prize Money
1st: £5,848.002nd: £1,717.003rd: £859.004th: £429.00
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