14:00 Ludlow

Monday 22 November 2021

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

Thank You Andrew Ballham Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 50.9s

Trooper Jones³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 103

80/1

Placed in points and got back on track when 1¼ lengths third of 7 in a Worcester maiden hurdle (good to soft) in May. Offered little after 5 months off on handicap bow there 33 days ago, however.

Form: 2/34P-37

Art Of Diplomacy³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 102

17/2

Flat winner who was in process of running big race when exiting at final flight on handicap debut in this sphere at Huntingdon (25f) a year ago. Shaped as if needing run on return. Has changed yards.

Form: 478/F-6

Top Man⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 95| D

7/2

Built on previous promise when taking advantage of reduced mark stepping up in trip at Plumpton last week, value for plenty more than the winning margin suggests. Obvious claims under a penalty.

Form: 690851

Holly James^v²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

28/1

Seems to be going the wrong way and ran no sort of race last 3 starts.

Form: 325530

Golden Glory^t²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens| OR: 92WS

66/1

Maiden who ended last season with 2 poor efforts but mark at least a bit more realistic now.

Form: 73/7708-

Get An Oscar^b,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 91| D

40/1

Perked up by change of headgear when runner-up at Worcester (23f) in August but disappointing since, taking little interest at Exeter 12 days ago. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 392R30

Lough Derg Lyric³⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 89| D

22/1

Multiple point winner but little show under Rules. Has left Gerard Lawless.

Form: 2U/2P3P-

General Picton^p⁴⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick| T: R Luke| OR: 84

125/1

Modest form over hurdles/fences for Kim Bailey/Rebecca Curtis and failed to come on for last season's reappearance for yet another stable (David Rees). Off 15 months.

Form: 942P/55-

Sue Be It^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Jones| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 83

25/1

Now 12 runs since her last win back in 2018, though at least wasn't entirely disgraced from out of the weights at Wincanton last month.

Form: 02-5076

Racing Spirit^b,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 76| D

16/1

Modest operator who is hard to rely upon, though latest third at Huntington was at least creditable. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 1-87283

Our Idic Boy⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 68| D

8/15

Much improved both starts this season after 11 months off, beating 11 rivals in good style from 4 lb out of the weights at Newcastle on Thursday. Still low mileage and can follow up off 5 lb higher.

Form: PP/84-41

Forecasts

Our Idic Boy (8/15), Top Man (7/2), Art Of Diplomacy (17/2), Racing Spirit (16/1), Lough Derg Lyric (22/1), Sue Be It (25/1), Holly James (28/1), Get An Oscar (40/1), Golden Glory (66/1), Trooper Jones (80/1), General Picton (125/1)

OUR IDIC BOY is a sizeable gelding who's showing the benefit of a very patient approach and confirmed his reappearance promise when off the mark in good style at Newcastle on Thursday. Effectively only 5 lb higher here under a penalty, he's taken to follow up at the main expense of fellow-penalised winner Top Man, who took advantage of his reduced mark when seeming suited by this trip at Plumpton.