14:00 Ludlow

Monday 23 May 2022

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:35

Racing To School Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 44.40s

Henry Box Brown¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

7/1

Bumper winner in Ireland. Stepped up on his first 3 starts over hurdles for current yard when third on handicap debut at Fontwell (17.7f) 11 days ago, despite not being ideally placed. Can do better.

Form: 1/033-3

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Zucayan^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 97

11/2

Fair form in bumpers when runner-up first 3 starts. Getting the hang of things over hurdles, best effort (in 1st time tongue tie) when second in C&D novice 15 days ago. Can go well on handicap debut.

Form: 26435-2

Stumps Or Slips⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: T H Weston| OR: 92| BF

3/1

Promising sort who caught the eye when seventh of 11 in novice at Chepstow in January. Off 4 months, improved when runner-up on handicap debut at Uttoxeter, despite again pulling hard. Respected.

Form: P/3397-2

Honestlyntrufully^b1,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 91| BF| D

10/1

Improved when off mark in good style in handicap at Taunton (16.5f) in April, relishing the drop back in trip and switch to front-running tactics. However, ran below par next time. Blinkers now go on.

Form: 06201-9

White Turf^v¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 86

6/1

Remains a maiden after 13 hurdle runs, but shaped well when runner-up 4 times last season. Off 9 months, better than bare result when fifth of 7 in C&D novice 15 days ago. Can get off the mark.

Form: 22422-5

Mcpherson^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 90

12/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat in Ireland. Looks to have been brought along gradually over hurdles, racing well off the pace and never dangerous in C&D novice last month. Interesting on handicap debut.

Form: 756-

Diamond Joel⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 72

20/1

Has finished third in handicaps at Uttoxeter on 2 of his last 3 starts, producing best effort over hurdles in conditionals' event on latest occasion. More needed though to defy current mark.

Form: 955353-

Lindwall^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 77

10/3

Fair stayer on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. Well held over hurdles for this yard in the winter, before runner-up back on the Flat 2 weeks ago. Open to significant improvement on handicap hurdle bow.

Form: 555-

Junior Massini^p⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: H James| OR: 69

40/1

Little form in varied events over hurdles so far and looks to be up against it again here from 5 lb out of the weights.

Form: 8/P43P5-

Forecasts

Stumps Or Slips (3/1), Lindwall (10/3), Zucayan (11/2), White Turf (6/1), Henry Box Brown (7/1), Honestlyntrufully (10/1), Mcpherson (12/1), Diamond Joel (20/1), Junior Massini (40/1)

WHITE TURF has been shaping well and this could be the day that he manages to get his head in front. He was runner-up on 4 of his 5 starts last season and made an encouraging return from 9 months off at this C&D 15 days ago, close up for a long way before tying up on the run-in. The 7-y-o can build on that effort to see off the challenge of Stumps Or Slips, with Zucayan the pick of the handicap debutants.