13:30 Ludlow

Thursday 20 January 2022

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

racingtv.com/free month Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 51.90s

Zacony Rebel⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 127| BF

1/3

Lightly-raced ex-pointer who upped his game to open account in novice at Fontwell in October. Backed it up when second in a Huntingdon handicap last month and he sets the standard for rest to aim at.

Form: F7/5-12

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Alternative Fact^h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

18/1

Useful at his best on Flat but he struggled in that sphere in 2021 and didn't shape with any immediate promise when down the field on his Chepstow hurdle debut over Christmas.

Form: 0

Cheeky Ricco⁷⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts

100/1

Showed some ability when fifth of 10 in a Newcastle bumper for Sean Regan in November 2019 but he's been absent since ahead of his switch to hurdles.

Form: 5/

Fine By Me⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

40/1

Showed ability in bumpers but looks one for the longer term judged on his hurdling debut last month.

Form: 2306

High Tech⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

4/1

Fair on Flat in France for Nicolas Clement, successful twice in 2021 and creditable second last time. Joined good yard ahead of hurdle debut and fancied to play a part.

Form:

Outback Frontiers¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: J G M O'Shea

150/1

Has hinted at ability in 2 bumpers/hurdles but not enough to suggest he'll get heavily involved here.

Form: 5-249U7

Regal Pretender²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young

150/1

Showed a bit on the first of 2 bumper starts early last summer but would be a bit of a surprise winner now hurdling after a break.

Form: 56

Tikitov⁵¹

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

7/1

Pulled up in both points but made a sound start under Rules when third in a Southwell bumper in November. Can make presence felt in race like this on that evidence.

Form: P/P-3

Volatore²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies

66/1

Well held in 2 bumpers last season. Showed a bit more when fifth on her C&D hurdle debut/reappearance but a fair bit more will be needed to go close.

Form: 60-5

Kobra⁴³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: David England| T: D Skelton

50/1

Won sole start on Flat in Germany. Stopped quickly when eighth in juvenile hurdle at Leicester on NH debut in November 2020. Off since but dangerous to rule out improvement given who trains her.

Form: 8-

Sweet Spirit²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey

33/1

Lightly-raced 8-y-o and presumably not easiest to train. Showed she retains ability on her 2m Catterick return for a new yard over Christmas but needs to prove she can build on that now.

Form: 23/P-4

Olympe De Gouges²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

80/1

Showed modest form on the first of 2 Flat starts. 25/1, weakening when unseated 2 out on Doncaster hurdle debut 3 weeks ago.

Form: U

Forecasts

Zacony Rebel (1/3), High Tech (4/1), Tikitov (7/1), Alternative Fact (18/1), Sweet Spirit (33/1), Fine By Me (40/1), Kobra (50/1), Volatore (66/1), Olympe De Gouges (80/1), Cheeky Ricco (100/1), Outback Frontiers (150/1), Regal Pretender (150/1)

In what doesn't look the strongest novice ZACONY REBEL may be up to defying a penalty. The main threat may come from hurdle newcomers High Tech, who won twice on the Flat in France, and Tikitov, who shaped quite nicely in a bumper at Southwell in November.