13:30 Ludlow

Friday 6 January 2023

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

Luke Watson Memorial 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 26.6s

Bertie B⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C Boultbee-Brooks

25/1

Made a winning start to his career in a Bangor bumper in April and shaped as if better for the experience sent hurdling when sixth of 13 in a novice here (16.2f) 67 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 1-6

Best Mate Dave¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys

250/1

Didn't show much in a pair of bumpers last season and has been tailed off both starts over hurdles this term.

Form: 85-05

Coal Fire¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

250/1

Showed only greenness when well held in a Market Rasen bumper on debut and fared no better tried hurdling at Ffos Las 15 days ago.

Form: 70

Don't Tell David^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

66/1

Fair winner of 5-runner bumper at Warwick on debut in April but has run a long way below that level both starts over hurdles. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 1-87

Egbert⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 119

6/4

From a successful family and showed plenty in a couple of bumpers and has done the same in reaching the frame both starts over hurdles. Solid claims.

Form: 3-234

Gentle Frank⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: Henry Oliver

15/2

Runner-up completed start in points and showed some promise when fourth in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) on NH debut 55 days ago. Entitled to progress.

Form: FC2-4

Hard Frost³⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

50/1

Showed fair from on the first of 2 starts in bumpers but never dangerous in 2 novice hurdles. Off 11 months. First run for yard after leaving Paul Nicholls.

Form: 3/848-

Impose Toi²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

13/8

Half-brother to useful hurdler/chaser Floueur and showed fairly useful form when winning both bumper starts in France for Mlle D. Mele. Very interesting hurdling debutant having joined top connections.

Form: 11-

Keable²⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Fame And Glory gelding. Half-brother to smart hurdler/chaser Kings Palace. Sixth on his only start in Irish points so will need to show more on this switch to Rules.

Form: 6-

Rajjamataz⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P NewlandWS

150/1

Has folded tamely both starts in bumpers so it will be interesting to see if a subsequent breathing operation makes any difference on hurdling debut.

Form: 60

Time For A Pint⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

50/1

Off the mark in Irish points (awarded race) at the second attempt but went with no immediate promise switched to Rules in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow in early November.

Form: 31-0

Tzarmix⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas

28/1

Gemix gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/fair chaser Tzar Royal. Behind when unseated rider 2 out in Hereford maiden hurdle on debut in October.

Form: U

What A Steal⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

9/1

Showed fair form in a couple of bumpers last winter and shaped as if better for the run sent hurdling after 8 months off when fifth of 16 in a Hereford novice (16.2f) 59 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Open to improvement.

Form: 32-5

My Girl Katie¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris

22/1

Ocovango mare. Successful on her sole start in points and showed a fair bit on her Rules debut when fourth in a mares' novice hurdle over C&D 17 days ago. Entitled to do better.

Form: 14

My Virtue²³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley

150/1

Off the mark in points at the third attempt (match) but showed nothing in a bumper at Aintree on only outing for Miss Katie Ayres.

Form: 9S1-9

Non-Runners

These Happy Daze⁵⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: Mrs S Leech J: Adrian Heskin

Forecasts

Egbert (6/4), Impose Toi (13/8), Gentle Frank (15/2), What A Steal (9/1), My Girl Katie (22/1), Bertie B (25/1), Tzarmix (28/1), Keable (33/1), These Happy Daze (33/1), Time For A Pint (50/1), Hard Frost (50/1), Don't Tell David (66/1), Rajjamataz (150/1), My Virtue (150/1), Coal Fire (250/1), Best Mate Dave (250/1)

IMPOSE TOI showed fairly useful form when winning both bumper starts in France and, having joined top connections, he makes plenty of appeal on his hurdling debut. Egbert rates the main threat ahead of What A Steal.