16:45 Ludlow

Wednesday 24 February 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 4m 5.70s

Nordic Combined^b,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| D

10/3

Opened hurdles account at Taunton final run last term. Resolution when push comes to shove often missing with him though and mistakes have also crept in of late.

Form: 6525F7

Ey Up Rocky⁷²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

8/1

Fairly useful bumper winner and off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt at Newbury in March 2019. Not seen since, but is at least in very good hands.

Form: P422P1/

Robinshill^t⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| CD

5/1

Superbly prepared back from 10 months off, winning all 3 starts in the autumn (2 here) over hurdles and fences. Lower mark over these obstacles is justified but still demands respect.

Form: 830-111

Gerolamo Cardano^p⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 124| DWS

12/1

Scored in good style on Hereford hurdle debut a year ago, but failed to kick on, pulling up in Fred Winter at Cheltenham. No impact on reappearance and needs help for the assessor. Has had a wind op.

Form: 4136P-0

Eddiemaurice^t1⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 120| D

8/1

Good servant for this yard and a regular in ta handicap at Kempton, fifth in December's renewal. Eased 2 lb and he can remain competitive.

Form: 6313-75

Star of Rory^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 118| C| D

10/3

Signed off last term on a winning note over 21.3f at this venue. Fell at Warwick but showed no ill effects when third at Chepstow last month. Down in trip.

Form: 251-0F3

Lisheen Castle⁷⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117| BF| D

8/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 8.5f). Bought for 50,000 gns and made winning debut over hurdles in January 2019. Off since a lesser effort the following month and moved yards in that time.

Form: 14/

Olympic Honour⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114| D

9/1

Fair winner at best but only eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, heavy) last month. Drying ground perhaps in his favour.

Form: 21-0298

Non-Runners

Deniliquin⁷⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Adrian Heskin

Forecasts

Star of Rory (10/3), Nordic Combined (10/3), Robinshill (5/1), Eddiemaurice (8/1), Ey Up Rocky (8/1), Lisheen Castle (8/1), Olympic Honour (9/1), Deniliquin (10/1), Gerolamo Cardano (12/1)

A few of these have plenty to prove, but EDDIEMAURICE isn't one of them. A regular at this sort of level, he's back on his last winning mark so a bold showing looks firmly on the cards. Robinshill chases a 4-timer and has to be feared, while the market will help assess Lisheen Castle on return from 2 years off.