16:30 Ludlow

Monday 28 January 2019

All13:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

A.J.A Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 54.10s

Dancing Doug⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell| T: S Thomas| OR: 112

14/1

Bumper/novice hurdle form is fair with his last outing coming here over a shorter trip (2m5f) and qualifying him for a mark. Made a bad mistake just as the race was unfolding; no makes his handicap debut off fair but not lenient opening mark.

Form: F322-F3

Three Star General^b¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 111

5/1

Unreliable sort whose hurdles record of 1-15 probably defines him although he turned in a good effort last time over a staying trip (3m1f). Has gradually fallen through the grades this season (this is the easiest he's tried); doubts remain overall.

Form: 803352

Supakalanistic²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

7/2

Fourth over C&D last time in a better grade he looked as though he was coming to his best and will appreciate this drop in class. He certainly wasn't knocked around last time; does need a real test though (one win came in testing conditions).

Form: P-75274

Sinakar^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Adam O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 110

25/1

Needed the run last time on his return from a long break (eventually pulled up) and comes here with a point to prove. Yard are still very quiet though and his only hurdles win came in a soft ground seller over much shorter; others make more appeal.

Form: 2125/P

Mead Vale²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 110

6/1

In good form of late but has yet to really prove himself over staying trips; paid for chasing a well-handicapped and runaway front runner last time. Best judged on his Taunton 2m win a few starts back off 6lb lower; trip remains a question mark.

Form: 3-25143

Todd^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

10/1

Given a chance by the handicapper he's won twice since coming under the care of this yard; this sort of trip looking to suit when scoring at Fakenham (off 4lb lower). Not quite in the same form last time over the same C&D; stays well and in the mix.

Form: 162312

Boher Lad²⁵⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss S L Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 98| CD

25/1

His C&D win came a fair while ago and in more testing conditions of an 18lb lower mark (has shown he can cope with this mark/conditions). Returns from a fair absence but was operating below his best when last seen; looks unsafe as things stand.

Form: 45494-7

Taking A Chance³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97

7/1

Modest form over hurdles for the most part but is with a good yard; handicap debut came after a fair break (race may have been needed). Now stepped up 1m in trip, on better ground and dropped 5lb in the handicap; worth noting a market move.

Form: 2/P505-6

Strictlyadancer²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97

5/2

Put Todd in his place last time at Fakenham (2m7f) when building on his handicap debut stepped up markedly in trip after a short break. That was only a low-grade affair but he looks progressive at this level; 5lb higher here and a leading contender.

Form: FU-8471

Miss Mayfair^b1,t1³³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 96

50/1

Looked to need the run last time after a year off dropping away quickly after making the running (beaten 66L). Not a huge amount of encouragement in that run though and now tried in a new headgear combination; still 3lb above last winning mark.

Form: 2412P-6

Red Admirable^t,v³³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Callum McBride⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 95| D

25/1

Veteran who is still capable of some fair efforts (ran well in first-time visor last time) and has now dropped to his last winning mark. Stable have been going well of late; would have a place chance on his best form but no more than that.

Form: 617-463

Mr Bachster⁴³

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr J C Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 74| C| D

100/1

Course winner (2m4f) who has offered little in the way of encouragement of late and is 10lb out of the handicap here. From a yard that have been rather quiet over the past few months it would be a surprise to see him add another course win.

Form: 4PU-F06

Forecasts

Strictlyadancer (5/2), Supakalanistic (7/2), Three Star General (5/1), Mead Vale (6/1), Taking A Chance (7/1), Todd (10/1), Dancing Doug (14/1), Red Admirable (25/1), Boher Lad (25/1), Sinakar (25/1), Miss Mayfair (50/1), Mr Bachster (100/1)

The biggest handicap field of the day to end the card with; STRICTLYADANCER is the suggestion to follow up his New Year’s Day win at Fakenham and confirm the form with Todd especially as he still looks to have progress in him. Mead Vale has been running well and chased home a couple of well-handicapped types at Chepstow last time but his stamina for this trip must be in question. Superkalanistic will enjoy this drop in class but he does need a real test and this sharp track even over this trip may not provide that. If there’s one to watch in the market then it’s Taking A Chance who emanates from a good yard who are very good at getting the best (especially in handicaps) out of this type.