13:50 Ludlow

Thursday 16 January 2020

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5515:3016:00

Henman Marquees Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 39.80s

Arvico's Light²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

100/1

Pretty easy to rule out, given he failed to show much encouragement when a never dangerous seventh on second start over hurdles at Hereford (2m5f; heavy) last month. Plenty more needed if he is to feature.

Form: 0-F7

Big Data²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber

20/1

Bumped into one when a 26-length second to Adrimel at Uttoxeter (2m; heavy) on his seasonal reappearance. Step up in trip should suit given he is related to winners over 2m7f/3m. Interesting contender on hurdles debut.

Form: 4-2

Felony³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

12/1

Showed sizeable improvement to come on significantly from his debut effort to finish runner-up at Warwick (2m; heavy) last month. Now steps up in trip on hurdles debut, and is the preferred choice of Nico De Boinville which could prove significant.

Form: 02

Gosheven^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

11/10

Four-race maiden over hurdles, but was a respectable fourth behind the exciting Harry Senior at Chepstow (2m3f; heavy) on Welsh National Day. Looks the stable first-string based on jockey bookings, and this looks less competitive on paper.

Form: 535/3-4

I'm Wiser Now²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117| BF

2/1

Consistent sort but his record over hurdles now stands at 0-5. Beginning to prove very frustrating (turned over as a favourite the last twice), but is highly likely to be in the mix once more. Opposable for win purposes though.

Form: 3-U2332

No Strangers Here²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Powerful stable remain in healthy form (currently operating at a 28% strike-rate), and he showed definite promise on rules debut in a bumper on Boxing Day when third at Wincanton (2m; heavy). Now starts out over hurdles, and has place claims.

Form: 3

Oscar Asche^p1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis

20/1

Drops back slightly in trip to 2m5f after never looking a threat on either of his two starts over hurdles behind the talented Jepeck. Looks more of a handicap project, and others have more pressing claims.

Form: 3/51-635

Ship Of The Fen¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

14/1

Finished down the field (8th) on hurdles debut at Cheltenham (2m; good to soft) in what is turning out to be a strong race. Not seen over obstacles since but did finish sixth of seven on the level at Lingfield (1m4f; standard) 12 days ago.

Form: 8

Sleight Of Hand³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

10/1

Placed in bumpers last season behind a potentially above-average pair of Paul Nicholls inmates. Something was obviously amiss when he was pulled-up at Warwick (2m5f; heavy) on hurdles debut. Definitely worth another chance in an open contest.

Form: 34-P

Sleptwithmebootson⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: J G O'Neill

100/1

Not disgraced when sixth over 2m at this track in a bumper over C&D on her penultimate start. Now steps up to 2m5f on hurdles debut but is required to bounce back after a posting a lesser effort at Warwick (2m; good to soft) back in November.

Form: 0-469

Non-Runners

Ashtown Lad⁸¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Laxey⁶⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: H D Daly J: L P Aspell

Secret Court⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: R Dickin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gosheven (11/10), I'm Wiser Now (2/1), Ashtown Lad (7/2), Laxey (5/1), Sleight Of Hand (10/1), Felony (12/1), Ship Of The Fen (14/1), Oscar Asche (20/1), Big Data (20/1), No Strangers Here (20/1), Secret Court (100/1), Arvico's Light (100/1), Sleptwithmebootson (100/1)

A mixture of profiles on show, with Felony one of the less exposed names in the line-up. He makes his hurdles debut for a trainer/jockey combo who are going great guns at present, and he should be firmly in the mix after he stepped up markedly from an underwhelming debut effort to finish second last time out. However, preference is for GOSHEVEN who has had four attempts over obstacles, but has finished placed in behind some decent sorts. This looks a weaker contest than he is used to running in, & he can make it fifth time lucky over hurdles. I'm Wiser Now has never finished out of the placings when completing and can prove best of the rest, despite being frustrating.