14:00 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

G C Rickards Ltd EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 11.70s

Coddington Banks²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies

100/1

Unraced under Rules so far she's a half-sister to a winning point-to-pointer in Sir Harry Lewis. Beaten 25L and 24L when unplaced in two Open maiden events in point-to-points; likely to find this a tough introduction.

Form: 5-4

Etamine Du Cochet³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF

2/1

Made a very sound start to her hurdling career chasing home Grade 1 winner We Have A Dream (3rd/4th also won next time). Has returned from wind surgery to twice finish in the runner-up slot; remains open to more progress.

Form: 2-22

Freedom Run⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

20/1

One reasonable bumper run to her name (2nd start; weak affair) although her last run failed to show that she had built on that outing. Now goes hurdling for the first time and this discipline over further is likely to suit better given her pedigree.

Form: 6-24

Legends Gold³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

9/4

Irish point-to-point winner by 6L on her only run in that sphere who has shown enough in bumpers to be of interest here. Her debut bumper by far her best run of the two when runner-up at Aintree; should enjoy the step up in trip to 2m5f.

Form: 1-29

Liberty Bella²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley

25/1

Bumper form was only modest and in fact she looked to have been regressing through her time in that discipline. Only ran to about the same level on her hurdles debut after a 7-month break; made plenty of mistakes, likely to be outclassed here.

Form: 5457-6

Malachys Girl^h²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

8/1

Gained plenty of experience in Irish point-to-points (24221) and turned in a respectable effort on her Rules debut in a Cheltenham bumper (hooded for that run; retained here). Left behind by the first four but kept on to finish 5th; hurdles debut.

Form: 242215-

Pomme De Nuit^t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Conor Shoemark| T: M Keighley

100/1

Well beaten in a brace of bumpers her hurdling form has been no better and she went with little encouragement last time when 100-1 at Leicester. Tongue-tie now goes on for the first-time but it may take a lot more than that to see her progress.

Form: 8-0P4

Presenting Rio^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case

40/1

Maiden in the point-to-point sphere (fell on debut; runner-up twice) she showed a little ability on her Rules/bumper debut with a first-time tongue-tie on. Given a lot to do there and will appreciate this step up in distance.

Form: F522-66

Saga Succes¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly

33/1

Trainer has won this race four times in the last six years it looks as though he will do well to add to those figures here. This one looks very much one for the longer term having shown only inexperience in her two bumper runs; hurdles debut.

Form: 90

Sparkling Dawn¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: J Farrelly

16/1

Took a Huntingdon bumper earlier in the year (she made her debut in the same race the year before) and was disgraced when considerably upped in grade in an Aintree bumper. Gave a shocking display on hurdles debut; looked far from a natural.

Form: 43/18-U

Trull La La

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

7/2

Well-bred newcomer from a yard that do well with their hurdlers here (30% strike-rate) and this €50,000 purchase as a three-year-old is an interesting sort. Half-sister fairly useful hurdler AS I See It and fair hurdler Chocca Wocca.

Form:

Forecasts

Etamine Du Cochet (2/1), Legends Gold (9/4), Trull La La (7/2), Malachys Girl (8/1), Sparkling Dawn (16/1), Freedom Run (20/1), Liberty Bella (25/1), Saga Succes (33/1), Presenting Rio (40/1), Pomme De Nuit (100/1), Coddington Banks (100/1)

A fair few of these will appreciate this trip having previously run in point-to-points although they may struggle against the principals. ETAMINE DU COCHET sets a clear standard having finished 2nd to Grade 1 winner We Have A Dream on her hurdles debut with that form having been well advertised and she gets a good opportunity to open her account here. Trull La La is an interesting newcomer from a top yard who have a very good strike rate here and she must be respected with the market likely to provide the best vibe about her chance. Freedom Run, Legends Gold and Malachys Girl have all shown various degrees of promise and can be expected to run well.