15:00 Ludlow

Wednesday 23 February 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 3m 52.5s

Duca De Thaix^t³³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 125| D

125/1

Smart 2m chaser at his best but has gone the wrong way, pulling up both starts around this time last year for Olly Murphy. Lots to prove for new yard on first hurdles start since 2018.

Form: 396/7PP-

A Distant Place¹¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

5/1

Winning pointer who made light off 11 months off when taking Hereford maiden hurdle (19.6f) with plenty in hand in November. Revised mark back in a handicap is fair with promise of more to come.

Form: F1/422-1

River Bray^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 122

20/1

Well held last 4 starts, including on return and at Taunton (after yet another wind op) last month.

Form: 8265-75

Mr Grey Sky²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 119| D

11/8

Won both bumpers in 2018. Very lightly raced and below expectations over hurdles initially but switch to forcing tactics worked the oracle when making second handicap start a winning one last month.

Form: 13/33-51

Destrier^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| D

9/1

Smart 2m novice chaser in 2018/19 but didn't appear to be the force of old last season. Easily most promising effort over hurdles this term when fifth at Lingfield last month from this reduced mark.

Form: 558-795

Chaptal^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 116

33/1

Ex-French winning hurdler but limited impact in a trio of chase outings for this yard. Hopes rest on switch back to timber.

Form: 12-7455

Vocal Duke³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: T Lawes| OR: 113| D

6/1

Resumed progress back on a sharper track when recording win number 3 of the campaign at Fakenham in December. Well held back on the level a month later.

Form: 411051

Coolnaugh Haze²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111| D

3/1

Fairly useful form when second over 1¼m on Flat debut and confirmed the promise of his hurdles debut when making all at Plumpton 3 weeks ago. Mark looks very fair on this quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 31

Non-Runners

Black Poppy²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Kerry Lee J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Mr Grey Sky (11/8), Coolnaugh Haze (3/1), Black Poppy (7/2), A Distant Place (5/1), Vocal Duke (6/1), Destrier (9/1), River Bray (20/1), Chaptal (33/1), Duca De Thaix (125/1)

This could be strong form for the grade with the vote going to BLACK POPPY, who cashed in on a lenient opening mark last time and a 5 lb rise ought not to prevent a very bold follow-up bid. Coolnaugh Haze is also open to improvement while Destrier is more exposed but shaped as though back in good nick at Lingfield.