13:45 Ludlow

Wednesday 5 February 2020

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Racing For Schools 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 4.1s

Feel The Pinch²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| D

14/1

Showed little in bumpers and hurdling debut but then sprang a 33/1 shock when winning on good to soft at Uttoxeter last June. That form has taken some knocks and absent since, so will have to improve to defy his penalty.

Form: 00/6-981

Garry Clermont⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| BF| CD

2/1

Successful in sole point-to-point and bumper starts and looked a nice prospect when winning over C&D on second run over hurdles (soft). Reported to have bled from the nose when only third here last time but should figure for his in-form stable.

Form: 1-1313

Langer Dan⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| CD

8/13

Won here and followed up in Listed event at Wetherby on soft ground in the autumn. Probably improved again when 5L second of eight at Cheltenham when last seen and this represents a drop in grade. Sets the standard and sure to play a major role.

Form: 112

Adams Star³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: David Dennis

100/1

Didn't show much in pair of bumpers and tailed off when 100/1 on hurdling debut at Wincanton last month so will need to take a major step forward here.

Form: 490

Archie Brown²⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF

5/1

Well backed 2/1 shot on Perth bumper debut for Stuart Crawford in April but failed to live up to market expectations when 7L third of nine. Form of that race has taken several knocks but interesting on hurdling debut having joined top yard since.

Form: 3-

Etat Major Aulmes²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: O Signy

66/1

Similar moderate form in bumper and two novice hurdles at big prices and likely to be of more interest when handicapping after this.

Form: 688

Jaunty Viking²⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley

100/1

Tailed off in a pair of good ground bumpers last spring and switch to hurdles after nine months absence needs to transform him if he is to play a part here.

Form: 4-0

Kiteinahurricane^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Matt Griffiths| T: S Allwood

100/1

No sign of ability in two starts at 100/1 and too keen when tried in a hood last time (retained here). Not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: P8

Nocte Volatus²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

50/1

Pulled up and then tailed off in two runs to date but clearly thought capable of better as was sent off just 7/1 for debut. Probably one for handicaps after this though market watch advised.

Form: P9

Shady Character¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

150/1

No sign of ability in twp novice hurdles last month at 100/1 and hard to see him figuring here with stable struggling for winners at present.

Form: 3/P0

Shutthegate³⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J E Moore| T: J L Spearing

150/1

80/1 on debut in Ffos Las bumper a year ago but tailed off and now returns after an absence over hurdles. Best watched unless market proves otherwise.

Form: 0-

Steel Yard²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

100/1

Showed a glimmer of ability in point-to points but tailed off when 100/1 on recent hurdling debut at this track and hard to make a positive case for.

Form: 5U0

Secret Court^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin

100/1

Off the mark at the fourth attempt in a two finisher point-to-point last summer but no sign of ability in two bumpers since and needs this switch to hurdles to bring about vast improvement.

Form: P-P6109

Forecasts

Langer Dan (8/13), Garry Clermont (2/1), Archie Brown (5/1), Feel The Pinch (14/1), Nocte Volatus (50/1), Etat Major Aulmes (66/1), Jaunty Viking (100/1), Secret Court (100/1), Adams Star (100/1), Kiteinahurricane (100/1), Steel Yard (100/1), Shady Character (150/1), Shutthegate (150/1)

A novice hurdle lacking strength in depth and it provides the slick jumping LANGER DAN with a great opportunity to make it three out of four. The obvious danger seems to be Garry Clermont though the fact he bled last time is a slight concern. Archie Brown was clearly expected to fare better on his sole bumper run last spring but is interesting here switching to hurdles on first run for Paul Nicholls.