15:05 Ludlow

Monday 22 November 2021

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

Marsh Commercial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 19.70s

Staple Head^b⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-3| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 107| D

12/1

Point winner during the spring and opened Rules account in a Market Rasen handicap chase in June. Not the most straightforward of types, though, and ran no sort of a race last 2 starts. This easier.

Form: 1U1357

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Ship Of The Fen^v²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 102

5/2

Fairly useful 2m winner on the Flat who made promising start over fences when runner-up at Uttoxeter (2½m). Yet to build on that since but handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: 3F25U3

Spotty Dog¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: M Hawker| OR: 101

6/1

Improved from out of the blue when runner-up at Chepstow (19.4f, good) in March but underperformed both starts since. Off 6 months. Makes chase debut.

Form: 98825-U

Alderson¹⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 95

22/1

Rather lost his way over hurdles last season so plenty to prove on return/chase bow.

Form: B3PF5-8

Family Pot^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 88

6/1

Runner-up sole point start and best effort yet in this sphere when second in a 3-runner C&D novice at Ludlow last month. That wasn't solid form and little impact in handicap since. Chase bow.

Form: P-U7285

Whitechurch¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 87| D

5/1

Has an uninspiring record over hurdles but he's a winning pointer, and chase bow wasn't without some promise when fourth at Sedgefield 11 days ago, seeming stretched by the longer trip.

Form: 765-0U4

Nyoufsea⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 82

100/1

Failed to progress over hurdles and no form over fences this season for new connections.

Form: 50U-4P7

Born At Midnight¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 69

5/2

Showed he has some ability of late, no match for winner at Lingfield (10 lb out of handicap) but coming through to do best of the rest, all despite some trademark hairy jumping. 7 lb out of weights.

Form: 6/FP-5B2

Forecasts

Ship Of The Fen (5/2), Born At Midnight (5/2), Whitechurch (5/1), Family Pot (6/1), Spotty Dog (6/1), Staple Head (12/1), Alderson (22/1), Nyoufsea (100/1)

SHIP OF THE FEN has yet to build on his promising start over fences but his latest third at Fakenham was at least respectable and he's been given a chance by the handicapper. Stable Head needs treating with caution but is a potential threat at this level, while Whitechurch showed an aptitude for chasing at Sedgefield.