15:00 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All13:5514:2615:0015:3116:0516:4017:10

Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 58.70s

Top Gamble^b,t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 123| D

14/1

Smart Grade 2-winning chaser at his peak but 12-years-old now and struggling over fences in recent times; two spins over hurdles either side of New Year hinted he could still pick up a race and eased again by assessor so not ruled out.

Form: FF0-F36

Nordic Combined^t⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 123WS

11/4

Tends to run well but now 0-11 over hurdles (placed five times); best suited at this trip on soft-ish ground and has undergone a wind operation since last spotted.

Form: F8-3364

Westbrook Bertie⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M R Channon| OR: 123WS

9/1

Front-running sort won Fontwell maiden hurdle last season and almost scored again from front at Newbury in November; still low-mileage and has undergone wind surgery since below-par Kempton run 86 days ago. Not one to give an easy lead to.

Form: 3123-26

Baracalu^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 122| D

12/1

On a hat-trick after wins in selling handicap hurdle and claiming hurdle. This is much tougher though and off 6lb higher and on debut for new yard looks to have plenty on his plate.

Form: 2/43-311

Bean In Trouble³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122| D

9/4

Huntingdon bumper winner has finished second in two of three starts since going over timber; including last month at Wetherby. No worries on soft ground and opening handicap mark seems a fair one.

Form: 1-272

Linger¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 121| CD

66/1

Winner for Joseph O'Brien at Cork in October before joining current connections; has struggled to make an impact in four starts and handicapper seems to be in control at the moment.

Form: F1U899

Hijran⁶⁶

25/1

Four-time hurdles winner last season, at home on all ground types, progress stalled this season however and has undergone a second wind op since being pulled up at Southwell in December.

Form: 7116-6P

John Constable^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| CD

11/2

Fair handicapper at his best, gaining fourth hurdles win in the Listed Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen in 2017; even took a pop at the Champion Hurdle the following spring. Far from disgraced in four runs this winter and slipping to a workable mark.

Form: 997786

Don't Shout⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118

6/1

Winner over a 2m3f Hereford novices' hurdle in October; well held in Conditional Jockeys' event at Cheltenham's November Meeting on handicap bow and off since. Likely has better days in front of him.

Form: 62-310

Fair To Dream^h1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: S-J Davies| OR: 95

40/1

Brushed aside in three novice events around this circuit so far (never starting at less than 80-1); hooded on handicap debut and with major improvement demanded.

Form: 9-087

Forecasts

Bean In Trouble (9/4), Nordic Combined (11/4), John Constable (11/2), Don't Shout (6/1), Westbrook Bertie (9/1), Baracalu (12/1), Top Gamble (14/1), Hijran (25/1), Fair To Dream (40/1), Linger (66/1)

Handicap debutant BEAN IN TROUBLE pushed the market leader all the way at Wetherby last month and could have more to give now diverting his attention to this sphere. Don't Shout should have improvement to come while it would be dangerous to allow Westbrook Bertie an easy lead. Don't discount the experienced pair John Constable and Top Gamble too hastily.