15:35 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 December 2018

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

Tanners Claret Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 19.00s

Get Up Them Steps⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J G M O'Shea

8/1

100-1 and not much expected on his Newbury debut but finished a respectable 7th keeping on steadily in the closing stages. This looks a less competitive heat although he still faces one or two useful types; place hope at best.

Form: 7

Imperial Elysian^t1¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'BrienWS

14/1

Stable have a decent bumper record (1-9 here) and this one has a few useful relations and runs in the Gold Cup winning colours of Imperial Commander. Looks bred for stamina and offered something to work on from debut; wind op soon after debut.

Form: 5

Jimmy The Digger⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly

10/11

Yard only have a fairly modest bumper record (1-19 this season) although this one will have pleased the trainer on debut when taking the runner-up slot at Bangor. Fared best of the newcomers in that race and will know more this time around.

Form: 2

Long River Dancer

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

20/1

Yard yet to have a bumper winner this season (0-10). First foal out of dam who was a Flat maiden he looks fairly ordinary on pedigree. Only of interest if the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Parkin

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington

13/2

One of three newcomers in the field out of a dam who is the sister to the bumper and jumps winner Parsnip Pete (useful on his day). Yard have a decent 15% strike-rate in bumpers and are 1-4 here with their runners in this sphere; supported already.

Form:

Finnick Glory²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

25/1

Out of a dam who was a 1m winner and a sister to top-class hurdler Harchibald. 25-1 for her debut (against her own sex) but ran quite well (offered something to work on); little more needed here though.

Form: 4

Nonesuch

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

3/1

Most fancied of the newcomers from a stable with a terrific record in this race who cost €155,000 as a three-year-old. Half-sister to four winners including some useful ones and out of a dam who was a Grade 1 French winning hurdler; good prospect.

Form:

Piccolo Ramoscello¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson

150/1

Yard have not had a jumps winner in last five years albeit from limited representation and are 0-6 in bumpers in that timeframe. This one showed very little on debut at Bangor (200-1) and finished tailed off.

Form: 0

Western Dixie²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

100/1

Finished well held on her bumper debut at Wetherby and looks the sort who will be brought along with the long-term in mind.100-1 for her debut and likely to go off a similar price here.

Form: 0

Non-Runners

Sadlermor

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jimmy The Digger (10/11), Nonesuch (3/1), Parkin (13/2), Get Up Them Steps (8/1), Sadlermor (8/1), Imperial Elysian (14/1), Long River Dancer (20/1), Finnick Glory (25/1), Western Dixie (100/1), Piccolo Ramoscello (150/1)

Trainer Nicky Henderson has a 39% strike-rate in bumpers at Ludlow and has dominated this race over the years winning four of the last seven runnings and with some useful types most notable My Tent Or Yours in 2011. He saddles NONESUCH here who on pedigree looks just the sort who can make a winning debut and extend the trainers record in the race. She’s sure to be tested by Jimmy The Digger who sets the standard for those that have run with Imperial Elysian another of interest from those with an outing after a wind op although a greater test of stamina may be needed. One of the other newcomers Parkin is already attracting market support on pedigree he could justify that faith being shown.