20:00 Ludlow

Tuesday 8 May 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

AJA Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:03 | Winning time: 3m 41.30s

Voodoo Doll⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 109

6/1

Ran well on handicap debut here over C&D two starts back. Took a step backwards when never competitive off this 5lb higher mark next time and needs to bounce back.

Form: 77426-

Blazon⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Liam Carter⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109| BF| D

9/2

Has run well in both handicap hurdles so far and was sent off joint favourite at Huntingdon latest. Riders claim will help today and is respected.

Form: 2/50244-

Nikki Steel³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr James King| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 108| D

6/1

Looked desperately in need of the run in first start for nearly two years at Fakenham (2m4f), good to soft last month. Should come on for that and drops back in trip today and is on a decent mark on old form.

Form: 13212/P-

Equus Millar^h¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 108

7/1

You can make a decent case that he's on a good mark but handicap debut was a poor one at Warwick (2m, soft) back in January. Three month break and better ground may help and every chance of a livelier showing today.

Form: F440-

Crafty Roberto^b,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 108| D

25/1

Mixing up chasing and hurdling of late and whilst he is certainly capable on a going day, he has been a touch in-and-out lately.

Form: 2/26327-

Excellent Team^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 105| CD

8/1

C&D winner off a 3lb higher mark back in October on quick ground. Struggled largely since but a return to this surface round here a positive and rider claims handy 7lb. Dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 157P60-

Hit And Run^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Abbie McCain⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

8/1

In good form of late and no disgrace when finishing second to a bang in form and well handicapped rival last time. Likely to go well again.

Form: 213282-

Dusky Raider¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 104| D

20/1

Beat subsequent dual winner Generous Day in October and was put away after disappointing on soft ground next time. Needs a career best but more progress is possible.

Form: 3/30617-

Ormskirk²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 103

14/1

Better efforts of late and ran well at Wincanton on heavy ground last month. Return to this surface is a plus and another that could be in the shake up.

Form: 7/44733-

Billy My Boy^p¹⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 103| D

22/1

Inconsistent performer who was last seen being well beaten at Worcester in October. Likely to need this run.

Form: 5278P7-

Baratineur⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 102| D

7/1

Has had a real poor time of things over the last year. Again really struggling at Taunton latest. Mark has dropped to a dangerous level but impossible to fancy at the moment.

Form: 9/6876P-

Goal^p,t¹⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Brodie Hampson| T: Miss T Watkins| OR: 102| CD

33/1

C&D winner who has won multiple times under rules. Only 4lb higher that last winning mark and likely to be competitive if ready to roll after a five month break.

Form: 1P/6U73-

The Final Whistle¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J Pritchard Webb⁽⁷⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 100

66/1

Mark does not look overly generous for handicap debut on what we have seen so far. Market check needed all the same.

Form: 99798-

Helf^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Alex Edwards| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 91

33/1

Moderate flat performer who was beaten a very long way on handicap debut at Bangor recently. Blinkers go on but needs a huge step up.

Form: 9957-

Non-Runners

Irish Hawke¹⁴⁰

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: D McCain Jnr J: Ella McCain

Forecasts

Blazon (9/2), Nikki Steel (6/1), Voodoo Doll (6/1), Equus Millar (7/1), Baratineur (7/1), Excellent Team (8/1), Hit And Run (8/1), Irish Hawke (10/1), Ormskirk (14/1), Dusky Raider (20/1), Billy My Boy (22/1), Crafty Roberto (25/1), Goal (33/1), Helf (33/1), The Final Whistle (66/1)

The market should be informative regarding the chances of both Excellent Team and Nikki Steel. Irish Hawke has conditions to suit and could run very well for Ella McCain but this competitive heat can go to EQUUS MILLAR for Nigel Twiston-Davies. A couple of bits of his novice form would suggest that his opening mark is very workable and whilst you have to forgive a poor effort on handicap debut, he can come on for these better conditions.