15:30 Ludlow

Thursday 16 November 2017

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:00

Heath Farm Meats Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 44.30s

Caulfields Venture^v¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 125

33/1

Suited to forcing tactics on good ground. Struggled off career high marks following his Exeter success a year ago but drops below that mark after a poor run on his return. A fast track like this may expose his lack of pace.

Form: 3125-5P

Kelvingrove^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124

16/1

Winning hurdler who is well handicapped on his form in that discipline and on his second to Mr Mix on chasing debut. Has not convinced in his subsequent three starts over fences and looks risky as a result.

Form: 1-82466

Miami Present^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: H Bethell| OR: 123

10/1

Has won three of his last four with the defeat coming when the ground turned against him. A 6lb rise for his latest win seems fair but there will be competition for the lead this time in a much bigger field.

Form: 321141

Petite Power^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122

11/4

Looked in need of the run at Cheltenham last month when losing ground down the hill before rallying at the last. Will appreciate the gallop promised here and and any improvement provided by the cheekpieces will make him a leading contender.

Form: 16F44-4

By The Boardwalk^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122

8/1

Runner-up in this 12 months ago off 3lb higher. Arrived in better shape than appears the case this time, judged on last month's effort, but yard are in great form at present.

Form: 2432-30

Cernunnos^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 122

12/1

Blinkers and a flat track helped him to an overdue victory on penultimate start. Track and ground probably wrong for him last time, but his profile makes him one to be cautious of. Stable have taken two of the last three runnings of this.

Form: P-3U71P

Royal Plaza^h,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| BF

9/1

Has improved for the switch to this yard and worth a crack at this trip judged on his latest Ayr run. Remains on a feasible mark under a claimer who has ridden nine winners.

Form: F-32423

Aunty Ann²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 119

10/1

Improved for the step up to this trip when scoring at Worcester with plenty to spare. Handicapper has been lenient and she can be thereabouts again.

Form: 3-92331

After Hours^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 118| BF

4/1

Came in for support on Wetherby return when looking in need of the run. Runner-up four times last season and handicapped to go close again.

Form: 27222-5

The Happy Chappy^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 116| D

10/1

Improving young horse who scored over 3m2f at Sedgefield two weeks ago. Handicapper has been kind and there could easily be a lot more to come whilst the ground remains good.

Form: 3P5-121

Abbeygrey^p1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107| D

10/1

Overcame errors to score at Newton Abbot in September but mistakes have proved more costly in two starts since. Remains one to oppose from this mark until his jumping improves.

Form: 2P-514P

Forecasts

Petite Power (11/4), After Hours (4/1), By The Boardwalk (8/1), Royal Plaza (9/1), The Happy Chappy (10/1), Miami Present (10/1), Aunty Ann (10/1), Abbeygrey (10/1), Cernunnos (12/1), Kelvingrove (16/1), Caulfields Venture (33/1)

A competitive looking handicap where we should get a decent gallop with Caulfields Venture and Miami Present in the lineup. The latter has ben well placed to score three times this term but this looks a lot more competitive. Aunty Ann and The Happy Chappy both won last time and have not been unduly penalised by the handicapper. Tom George has a good record in this but Cernunnos is not one to rely on. After Hours is on a handy mark and should come on for a run over an inadequate trip for the conditions last time. PETITE POWER caught the eye at Cheltenham last month when staying on in a competitive race after being outpaced approaching three out. This is a race that looks set to be run to suit and he makes plenty of appeal with his yard doing so well.