13:55 Ludlow

Thursday 26 October 2017

All13:5514:3015:0015:3516:0516:35

Wendy Goodenough 21 Again Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 41.80s

Chatelier²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: S Drinkwater

100/1

Little show in a bumper and three novice hurdles. Still early days for him, but may have more chance in handicaps.

Form: 5790

Comber Mill^h1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alex Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 94

100/1

Has failed to hit the frame in seven outings over hurdles, two of them for his current trainer. Beaten out of sight at Worcester last time and needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 55-9769

Cresswell Legend^t1¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| BF| D

9/2

Point-to-point and bumper winner who was said by trainer to be over the top when well beaten on his last outing in May. Reported to have schooled well for this hurdles debut and can make his presence felt in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 1/31-7

Dharoos³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: N J Hawke

50/1

Showed clear signs of ability on the Flat for John Gosden and, after switching to this yard, ran respectably at Chelmsford. Was struggling when pulled up at Newton Abbot on his hurdling debut and perhaps this slight better ground will help.

Form: P

Future Boy²⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin

100/1

Pulled up in his last two point-to-points, having previously showed some promise. Has a nice pedigree and it will be interesting to see how he fares on his hurdling debut.

Form: 62PP-

Gang Warfare¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| D

50/1

Fair Flat performer, especially on AW surfaces. Has competed in two novice hurdles for current trainer, showing some promise on the first of them. Something to prove after a poor effort last time.

Form: 56

Hatcher^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

7/4

Won bumpers in April and last month and was sent to Huntingdon for his hurdling debut where he might have been much closer in second but for a blunder two flights home.. Pulled hard that day and needs to settle, but is clearly blessed with talent.

Form: 321-12

Magic Dancer^p,t¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 113

7/2

Only win on the Flat was over 1m, but he stays much further. Has finished second four times over timber, but latest effort in a Warwick handicap was disappointing. Needs to bounce back on his return to novice company.

Form: 22/329-7

Sgroppino²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| BF

7/2

Showed plenty of promise when second on his debut in a bumper, but was way below that level at Newbury when last seen in March. Has been given time to develop and will have been well prepared for his hurdling debut by leading connections.

Form: 28-

St John's¹⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

12/1

Won the first of his three starts in bumpers when trained by Rod Millman and makes his hurdling debut for a new yard. Likely to know his job and well worth checking out in the betting.

Form: 19-3

The Twisler^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

25/1

Winning stayer on the Flat who was well held on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter after blundering three out. Needs to show more if he is to figure.

Form: 8

Vado Forte³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey

50/1

Finished in mid-division in a Kempton bumper and was not fluent at his hurdles on his jumping debut at Worcester. Sure to have been well schooled since, but is best watched.

Form: 7-8

Forecasts

Hatcher (7/4), Magic Dancer (7/2), Sgroppino (7/2), Cresswell Legend (9/2), St John's (12/1), The Twisler (25/1), Vado Forte (50/1), Dharoos (50/1), Gang Warfare (50/1), Comber Mill (100/1), Chatelier (100/1), Future Boy (100/1)

Magic Dancer was not at his best in a handicap last time, but this return to novice company should see him in a better light and he is considered along with hurdling debutants St John's, Sgroppino and Cresswell Legend, each of which could turn out to be useful. However, HATCHER has two bumpers wins on his CV and would have shaken up the winner but for a blunder two hurdles from home on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon. A better round of jumping would make him hard to beat.