13:45 Ludlow

Thursday 3 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:4514:1514:5015:25

1871 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 50.8s

Silver Kayf²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133| C

9/2

Beat a useful sort here last March but he has been poor on both starts since including chase debut. Reverts back to the smaller obstacles but one of many in this with questions to answer.

Form: 41310-5

Seymour Star¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 128| C

15/2

Rattled off a hat-trick in early 2018 but has been in the grip of the handicapper since. Now below his last winning mark but his reappearance suggested he has a long way to go to reach that level.

Form: 1/0337-9

Call To Order^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

8/1

Decent efforts over fences at Warwick and Plumpton before pulling up over 3m at Ascot. Interesting contender back over hurdles under capable jockey.

Form: 32132P

Prince Of Steal^h1²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H J Evans| OR: 122| D

50/1

Lightly raced since back to back victories in 2016-16. Has failed to complete his last five starts and hard to fancy as a result.

Form: 5FPUP/P

Super Snipe²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: J Scott| OR: 120

10/1

Half-brother to a staying chaser and looks interesting now stepping up to this trip for handicap debut. Has done nothing to warrant his current mark so interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 682

Driftwood Haze¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 118| D

14/1

Most of his best efforts have come at Ffos Las and he is yet to make the frame here. Would appreciate more give in the ground, but he did at least look closer to his peak than most of these last time.

Form: 08455-3

Muthabir³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: R Johnson| T: R T Phillips| OR: 115| D

9/2

Kempton winner last season and now below that winning mark. Will strip fitter for a recent run and claims in a weak race for the grade with champion rider on board.

Form: 1054-84

Sliding Doors⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 114

5/2

Appreciated this trip on handicap debut at Aintree and no surprise he was found lacking for pace at Cheltenham last time. Yard 8-37 with hurdlers here for past five seasons and of definite interest.

Form: 8074-37

Supakalanistic²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112

8/1

Scored over 2m4f on soft ground 11 months ago. Below that mark here reflecting some sub-standard performances since and unproven at the trip.

Form: 1P-7527

Forecasts

Sliding Doors (5/2), Muthabir (9/2), Silver Kayf (9/2), Seymour Star (15/2), Supakalanistic (8/1), Call To Order (8/1), Super Snipe (10/1), Driftwood Haze (14/1), Prince Of Steal (50/1)

SLIDING DOORS was third in a decent race at Aintree on his reappearance and only run at this trip. He remains open to improvement and is at the right end of the handicap. Muthabir looks attractively weighted and should be nearing peak fitness after his comeback run, whilst Call To Order could be dangerous with the yard showing signs of a return to form.