Ludlow Club Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 7.1s

Tree Of Liberty²⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130

9/2

Point-to-point promise shown before some decent efforts in novice hurdles for Charlie Longsdon last season, winning over 2m3f at Musselburgh (good). Drop in trip not of obvious benefit for his seasonal/chasing bow for a new yard.

Form: 23221P-

Little Chunk^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Dave Crosse| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122| BF| D

11/2

Twice a winner in modest company over hurdles last season and has opened up this year with two strong second-place efforts in handicaps, most recently at Kempton (2m, good to soft). Fair mark as he makes a chasing debut.

Form: 411-P22

Joueur Bresilien^p1⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 122

5/2

Still a maiden but has attained a mark of 124 from his handful of runs over hurdles . Has started encouragingly over fences, finishing a 5L second to Robinshill in a similar event over C&D (good). Major player if cheekpieces induce improvement.

Form: 3/343-62

Master Of Verse^h¹²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| D

12/1

Maiden hurdle winner in Ireland for Noel Meade but slightly underwhelming in a series of beginners' events over fences during the summer. Interesting to see how he fares for respected new yard here from a mark which looks workable.

Form: 22-P465

Sister Sibyl¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison| OR: 115| D

9/4

Winner twice over hurdles (both easy ground) last winter and and has shown up well in both chase starts so far, finishing a close-up fourth behind The Tailgater at Doncaster (2m3f, good) latest. Mark is fair and the drop in trip may help.

Form: 1210-34

Nightfly^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 115| D

13/2

No great shakes over hurdles but took advantage of a handy mark when kicking off her chasing career with a comfortable win at Southwell (2m, good) last month. Raised 6lb and this looks a much tougher race.

Form: 444-2P1

Non-Runners

Exitas¹²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: P W Middleton J: James Bowen

Copain De Classe⁶⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Sister Sibyl (9/4), Joueur Bresilien (5/2), Copain De Classe (4/1), Tree Of Liberty (9/2), Little Chunk (11/2), Nightfly (13/2), Exitas (13/2), Master Of Verse (12/1)

Another good contest in which Joueur Bresilien could take some stopping if the introduction of cheekpieces have the desired effect, having chased home subsequent winner, Robinshill, on his chasing debut over C&D. Marginal preference, however, is for COPAIN DE CLASSE who showed real promise when bustling up subsequent Grade 2 winner Benatar for a long way on his chasing debut over a longer trip at Ascot. Sister Sibyl looks the most interesting of the remainder with this drop in trip likely to work in her favour.