15:05 Ludlow

Sunday 13 May 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Welsh Guards Association Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 4m 59.9s

Towering^b³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: N P Madden| T: C R Dore| OR: 106| D

20/1

Useful over hurdles and versatile with regards ground but well beaten in two recent efforts, tailed off each time and more needed here.

Form: 556177-

Eau De Nile⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 105

8/1

Well beaten and unplaced on all seven of his starts, failing to complete on last two outings, hard to fancy.

Form: 4908U-P

Royal Escape^p1,t1²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105

12/1

His form so far over hurdles has been modest but he looks as though he's been bubbling under whilst waiting for a mark. Makes his handicap debut here off a break and looks the type to improve for this sort of test; watch the market.

Form: 5/B54-

Chantecler^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 104

14/1

Well beaten on return to action on the Flat last time but generally a consistent sort and may have needed the run. Off-putting he's still a maiden though.

Form: 342236-

Astaroland^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 103

5/1

Not won since 2015 but ran well at Carlisle last time and may come on for that outing. Well-handicapped on old form.

Form: 2/94373-

Fille Des Champs^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 102

8/1

Pulled up at Uttoxeter last time and has won just one of her 16 starts. May want softer ground than this and others preferred.

Form: 54293P-

Togetherness¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: P R Chamings| OR: 96

33/1

Well beaten on first start since a wind op at Taunton and still a maiden after nine starts on the Flat and four over hurdles. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 0080-

Cry Wolf^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H J Evans| OR: 94

7/1

Still a maiden after 17 starts (seven on Flat) but ran well at Wolverhampton last time out when runner-up of 10. Has shaped with some promise over hurdles before so no ruled out on return to this code.

Form: 634P48-

Snobbery^t¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 94

25/1

Won a Wolverhampton maiden on the Flat but shown next to nothing over fences and hard to fancy on all known form.

Form: 550P-

Just A Feeling²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 83WS

4/1

Ran with some promise here in 2016 when runner-up of 10 but shown nothing more recently. Has her first start since a wind op and has plenty to find on form.

Form: 28/600P-

Miner Distraction⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 80

6/1

Won a bumper on debut in 2013 but has shown nothing in two starts since returning from a four year absence.

Form: 533P/76-

Courtinthemiddle¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: H Cobden| T: D Faulkner| OR: 79| D

8/1

Shown nothing in two starts this year, last of nine at Chepstow before he was pulled up at Towcester last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 9814/9P-

Non-Runners

Starlit Night¹⁵⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: C J Down J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Just A Feeling (4/1), Astaroland (5/1), Miner Distraction (6/1), Cry Wolf (7/1), Fille Des Champs (8/1), Courtinthemiddle (8/1), Eau De Nile (8/1), Royal Escape (12/1), Chantecler (14/1), Starlit Night (16/1), Towering (20/1), Snobbery (25/1), Togetherness (33/1)

ROYAL ESCAPE could be the one to side with in a new headgear combination and rates as the type to improve. Chantecler should run well and is more consistent than most in here while Astaroland is well-handicapped on old form.