14:45 Ludlow

Monday 25 November 2019

All12:3513:0513:4014:1514:4515:2015:50

Heath Farm Meats Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 33.9s

Voodoo Doll^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

7/1

Landed a handicap hurdle hat-trick (2m4f) in the middle of last year; hasn't won since despite some solid efforts in defeat. Had several chances of late off a lower mark than she last win off; may need a further ease in the weights to enter the mix.

Form: 37-5535

Finula²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J G O'Neill| OR: 115

50/1

It was a case of one win and done with Dan Skelton landing a gamble at Huntingdon when last seen in May showing improved form after 17 months off. Looked the type to run up a sequence but subsequently sold for £2,200 in July; stable debut.

Form: 25U6P/1

Chirico Vallis^h,t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114

16/1

Took a couple of small field novice hurdles when first with this stable but has been lightly-raced since (also had two winds ops). Showed that some ability remained when returning from the latest of those ops; still has some questions to answer.

Form: 2/3P-P66

Wilde Spirit¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 107| BF

3/1

Given the ownership its no surprise to see her return to this track; although she's yet to win a race her last two efforts here (the latest over C&D) indicate a victory may not be far away. Only beaten by a well-handicapped one last time; big player.

Form: 3385-22

Iconic Hero^t1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 105WS

6/1

Looks to have been brought along with handicaps in mind showing promise on his first two novice starts before returning from a break as the stable second string last time. Up in trip/into handicaps off the back of wind op, one to note in market.

Form: 3P3-524

Manor Park⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 104

12/1

Useful sort on the Flat; yet to match that level of form over hurdles and really blew his handicap mark with a second to the smart Longhouse Sale at Ffos Las. Given a stiff mark on the back of that run; likely to need a further ease in the weights.

Form: 4274

North Star Oscar^h,t²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 104| BF

11/10

In good form this year and goes unpenalised for his latest win at Huntingdon on Saturday looking at home over the longest trip (3m1f) that he had tried. Under the same rider here this looks a little more competitive; hard to dismiss though.

Form: 364131

Galactic Power²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 93| CD

14/1

Dual C&D winner and 9lb below his last winning mark that was gained in one of those victories. Hard to recommend even on that evidence though as he's struggling as badly as his stable is form at the moment.

Form: 2465B-0

Forecasts

North Star Oscar (11/10), Wilde Spirit (3/1), Iconic Hero (6/1), Voodoo Doll (7/1), Manor Park (12/1), Galactic Power (14/1), Chirico Vallis (16/1), Finula (50/1)

Connections are quick to strike again with North Sea Oscar who took a conditional riders’ event at Huntingdon on Saturday in easy fashion but despite the fact he’s off the same mark here the drop back in trip and more competitive contest mean others are preferred. One of those would be the Dan Skelton trained Iconic Hero, he looks just the type for handicaps having been given a good preparation for this and a wind op to boot, the market will guide on his expectations. WILDE SPIRIT just shades the argument on her C&D second to a resurgent Bhutan last time. Voodoo Doll is respected but may just need a further ease in the weights and a better surface to make an impact.