13:55 Ludlow

Wednesday 10 January 2018

All12:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:3516:05

Heath Farm Meats Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 17.4s

Secret Door³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: D A Jacob| T: H Fry| OR: 122| C

13/2

Won a couple of handicap hurdles, including one here, and the chasing route has been forced on connections after two lacklustre efforts. Dropped in grade and stable 3-7 with their chasers here.

Form: 11-3395

Volt Face^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121

25/1

Without a win since 2014 and pulled-up on latest start when tried in cheekpieces. Headgear removed and he is becoming frustrating to follow.

Form: 52-234P

Wandrin Star²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117

7/2

Easy winner of an Irish point-to-point and in good hands. Jumped much better here last time, whilst leaving the impression he would be suited by further.

Form: 1-544

Free Range^p1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

12/1

Winner of two Irish point-to-points, purchased by current connections for £10,000 earlier in the year. Appeared not to stay 2m5f last time, but connections have opted for headgear rather than a switch to 2m for his next start.

Form: 511-124

Old Salt²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115| C

12/1

Relished soft ground when scoring here over hurdles in 2016. Never in the hunt when a remote third at Newbury three weeks ago. That was just his second start over fences and he promises to be even more effective at this trip.

Form: 5435-P3

Hey Bill⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 112| D

14/1

Won 2-7 over hurdles and well-weighted on the pick of that form. Should be close to his peak after three runs back from an absence and having undoubtedly learnt plenty from a promising chase debut last month. One to note.

Form: 117-P84

Dark Mahler⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112| C

4/1

Beat a poor bunch on his chase debut here in November and the handicapper has taken that into account. Promises even more over this longer trip so has to go on the shortlist.

Form: 3/P64-1

Megabucks³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 112

3/1

Point-to-point winner in Ireland, ran well at a big price in Warwick novice hurdle in October and gained a steep opening mark as a result. Continued his progress last time and likely to do even better now sent chasing. Stable are in form.

Form: 4P1-253

Farm The Rock^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 111

12/1

Winning point-to-pointer who put in a good run at Wincanton on good ground before taking a heavy fall last time. Seems to handle some cut underfoot and capable of a bold show off bottom weight.

Form: 474-52F

Forecasts

Megabucks (3/1), Wandrin Star (7/2), Dark Mahler (4/1), Secret Door (13/2), Free Range (12/1), Old Salt (12/1), Farm The Rock (12/1), Hey Bill (14/1), Volt Face (25/1)

Secret Door and Volt Face have claims on their best form but recent efforts raise doubts as to whether that can be reproduced here. Winning point-to-pointers Wandrin Star, Megabucks and Farm The Rock all have potential to do better than they have shown so far, whilst Dark Mahler beat a much weaker field here in November. Old Salt looks the type to step up considerably on what we have seen so far over fences, but the vote goes to HEY BILL. The dual-winning hurdler has dropped to his last winning mark and will be better for his debut over fences last month. That was his third run back from a year's absence and he travelled well for much of the way in a strongly run race.