13:10 Ludlow

Thursday 21 January 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Vobe Electrics Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 3.3s

Balleticon³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| D

5/4

Showed plenty of ability in bumpers in 2018/19 and overcame a 2-year layoff to make a winning hurdling debut at Southwell (15.8f) 39 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Better to come.

Form: 225/1

The Grey Falco⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 119| D

3/1

Backed at long odds when making winning hurdling bow at Chepstow but came up short under a penalty at Bangor next time. Will need to pull out more to if he's to resume winning ways here.

Form: P23-713

Bizerta¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood

125/1

Fairly useful form when twice second from 3 starts on Flat in France in 2019, but was well held sent hurdling after 15 off at Catterick 18 days ago.

Form: 6

Blue Beirut¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies

250/1

Modest maiden at best on Flat who is readily opposed on this switch to hurdling.

Form:

Calico¹²³

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

5/1

Useful on Flat for P. Schiergen in Germany (stays 1¾m), winner 3 times in 2020 and made frame in Group 3 Deutsches St. Leger final start. Interesting hurdles recruit for top yard.

Form:

Helovaplan^h1¹¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: M Young

200/1

Fair on Flat, stays 9f. Below best in 2020 and sold from Bryan Smart for just £3,000 in October, so looks best watched fitted with a hood for hurdle debut.

Form:

Olympic Conqueror⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

10/1

Fairly useful on Flat, stays 12.5f, won handicap last time. Sold from James Fanshawe 18,000 gns in October and joined another successful yard ahead of hurdle debut.

Form:

Red Maple¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

11/2

Looked good prospect when making a successful debut in 8-runner bumper at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) in September. That form hasn't worked out, but he's open to improvement on hurdle debut.

Form: 1

Lime Drop⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly

150/1

Well held in 2 Wetherby bumpers 11 months apart and hard to fancy now hurdling.

Form: 7-7

Miss Gold Den³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: David England| T: O Murphy

80/1

Sister to bumper winner/smart hurdler Polly Peachum and made a promising start when third in a Warwick bumper. Disappointed at Hereford next time though, so bit to prove now hurdling.

Form: 35

Frankly Mr Shankly^h,t1¹⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O MurphyWS

16/1

Fairly useful performer on the Flat, stays 1½m, left poorly placed when below form last time. Is in the right hands to make it as a hurdler. Had wind op and also fitted with hood/tongue tie.

Form:

North Point^t¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

80/1

Fair maiden on Flat (stays 1m). New connections went to 22,000 gns to acquire him but he showed only a bit of promise on Sedgefield hurdle debut in September. Probably one for later.

Form: 4

Kimberley^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Alan Johns| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

150/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for James Fanshawe but was well held sent hurdling at Doncaster 23 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 5

Non-Runners

Obey The Rules¹¹⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Heross Du Seuil²⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Phil Healy¹³

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Balleticon (5/4), Heross Du Seuil (9/4), The Grey Falco (3/1), Calico (5/1), Red Maple (11/2), Olympic Conqueror (10/1), Frankly Mr Shankly (16/1), Obey The Rules (16/1), Phil Healy (25/1), Miss Gold Den (80/1), North Point (80/1), Bizerta (125/1), Kimberley (150/1), Lime Drop (150/1), Helovaplan (200/1), Blue Beirut (250/1)

There is no doubt HEROSS DU SEUIL’s task was made considerably easier by the fall of his market rival at the last at Kempton, but it was still a very pleasing performance and he seems sure to progress and win more races for his top yard. Calico is a most interesting hurdling debutant having shown a useful level of ability on the Flat in Germany, while there's better still to come from Balleticon.