16:50 Ludlow

Sunday 12 May 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Scott & Newman Centenary Challenger Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 9.7s

Bishopswood Flyer⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

20/1

Failed to beat a rival home in two five runner novice hurdles so far. Dropping slightly in trip but others hold stronger claims.

Form: 55-

Little Ginge⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

25/1

Signs of ability in two starts in bumpers including at Warwick (2m, soft) in March. Likely more needed than what he's shown so far on hurdling debut.

Form: 88-

Palixandre⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

6/4

Decent effort when 34L fourth in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Wincanton (good-to-soft) in March. First start since wind surgery on that occasion and is one to note for a top yard stepping up slightly in distance.

Form: 54-

Sunset Showdown⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 127

6/5

Point-to-point winner and showed good form when runner-up in a maiden hurdle over an extended 2m3f at Hereford (soft) in January last year. Struggled over fences on two most recent starts and is one to note on return to hurdling.

Form: 1524/0P-

Vivre Pour Vivre²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: Christian Williams

28/1

Dual Flat winner in 2016 but struggled in handicaps in that sphere since and finished well beaten on stable and hurdles debut at Ffos Las (2m6f, good) last month.

Form: 6-

Dartmoor²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| BF

12/1

Disappointing last of three, beaten 8L in a 2m1f bumper at Carlisle (good) on racecourse debut last month. Worth a check in the market on hurdling debut.

Form: 3-

Miss Gemstone⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

8/1

Fair form in finishing twice in bumpers most recently at Wetherby (2m, good) in February. Cheekpieces worn for the first time that day dispensed with for this debut over hurdles.

Form: 77-

Mo Tottie⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

14/1

Well held fourth of five in a bumper over an extended 2m1f at Fontwell (heavy) on debut in March. Hails from a decent yard but needs to leave that running well behind now switched to hurdles.

Form: 4-

Forecasts

Sunset Showdown (6/5), Palixandre (6/4), Miss Gemstone (8/1), Dartmoor (12/1), Mo Tottie (14/1), Bishopswood Flyer (20/1), Little Ginge (25/1), Vivre Pour Vivre (28/1)

SUNSET SHOWDOWN can make a winning return to hurdles by taking this novices contest. The selection sets the standard on the form he showed back in 2018 and he can see off his rivals here with Palixandre who represents a top stable capable of finishing runner-up ahead of Dartmoor who can claim third on his hurdles debut.