13:40 Ludlow

Thursday 27 February 2020

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:00

Perrott Properties Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 5.1s

Feel The Pinch²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

12/1

Winner of a 2m maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (good-to-soft) in June last year but struggled when 22L tenth on his return to action in a similar race to this on soft ground over C&D earlier this month. Interesting to see how he performs.

Form: 0/6-9810

Arvico's Light^h1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies

80/1

Failed to finish on two of his last three starts including when pulled up in a 2m5f maiden hurdle on soft ground here last month. Wears a hood for the first time in this contest.

Form: 0-F7P

Crypto⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| BF| D

8/13

Bumper winner on debut for previous yard at Newcastle (2m, good-to-soft) in March last year. Disappointing in a similar race at Haydock (soft) on debut for this stable in December and is a leading contender on hurdling debut.

Form: 1-5

Jaunty Viking²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley

11/1

Signs of ability in a bumper on good ground here on debut last April and performed well when 11L third in a novice hurdle over this C&D on jumping debut earlier this month. Of interest on this occasion.

Form: 4-03

Muse Of Fire^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

9/1

Point-to-point winner over 2m4f at Larkhill (good-to-soft) in March 2018 and showed ability when 17L fourth in a C&D novice hurdle on soft ground last month. Disappointed at Bangor (soft) subsequently and needs to return to form to take this race.

Form: 1/4749

Winged Isle^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: D Burchell

100/1

Pulled up on his first two starts and finished a well beaten seventh over an extended 2m at Bangor (soft) last time out. Probably best watched at present.

Form: PP7

Black Kalarosa⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin

8/1

Improved on previous efforts when finishing 10L sixth in a big field maiden hurdle over this C&D on soft going last week. Market support would be notable in this contest.

Form: 0P6

Blue Jacaranda¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

25/1

Showed fair form in a couple of bumpers in Ireland for Willie Mullins last year but disappointed on hurdling debut at Downpatrick (2m3f, yielding) in October. Worth a check in the market on debut for this yard.

Form: 347

Lady Sally⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph

33/1

Point-to-point winner who was well-beaten on return to rules when making hurdles debut over C&D last week. Impossible to recommend on that evidence, and so she remains best watched.

Form: 6-10

Proton²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll

7/1

Successful on the Flat for Jedd O'Keeffe but finished down the field on stable and hurdling debut over an extended 2m at Doncaster (good) earlier this month. Others hold more obvious claims.

Form: 7

Non-Runners

Essenaitch²⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P D Evans J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Crypto (8/13), Proton (7/1), Black Kalarosa (8/1), Muse Of Fire (9/1), Jaunty Viking (11/1), Feel The Pinch (12/1), Blue Jacaranda (25/1), Lady Sally (33/1), Essenaitch (66/1), Arvico's Light (80/1), Winged Isle (100/1)

CRYPTO impressed on racecourse debut last season and he is taken to put a below par effort last time out behind him to make a winning hurdling debut in the opening novices' event. The selection can see off Jaunty Viking who showed improved form when placed on his most recent start while Blue Jacaranda, placed in bumpers in Ireland can finish third on his debut for a new stable.