14:35 Ludlow

Wednesday 22 February 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5217:22

Suzuki ATV Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 57.7s

Estacas¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| D

66/1

Useful in bumpers last term but no show in 2 hurdles for current yard. Can only be watched for the time being.

Form: 13-05

Fuji Rocks^t1⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

11/2

Travelled well when third in 2 bumpers in the autumn. Didn't make too bad a start over hurdles when sixth at Newbury in November. Has a tongue tie added back from a break. Likely improver.

Form: 336

Hackberry^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| D

150/1

Fair bumper/Flat winner during time with Brian Ellison. Pulled up on hurdle in October (for Ann Duffield) and only eighth on AW Flat on last month's first run for another new trainer. Likely outsider.

Form: 140/P

Howyouplaythegame¹²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: S Allwood

200/1

Showed little in a brace of bumpers and didn't fare any better on his first couple of starts over hurdles, latest after 10 months off.

Form: 48/0-8

Rocco Royale²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

3/1

Shirocco gelding. Has hinted at ability in a bumper and maiden hurdle and there's likely a bigger performance in him soon.

Form: 65

Royal Max²⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

17/2

Closely related to 2 winners on Flat. Comfortably held in 2 bumpers in the first half of 2022 but he was prominent in the betting on both occasions, suggesting his top stable things he's capable of better. Switches to hurdles after 9 months off.

Form: 0-6

Scherbobalob¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph

50/1

Modest maiden on Flat who is more one for handicaps based on his 2 attempts over hurdles.

Form: 79

Welsh Charger⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph

6/5

Just minor promise in a brace of bumpers but different story switched to hurdles at Huntingdon last month, shaping well in second. That's the best form on offer here.

Form: 6-52

Wide To West¹¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: M Keighley

100/1

Placed on completed start in points but pulled up on Chepstow hurdle debut in November. Off since.

Form: P/3P-P

Longville Lilly¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: T Wall

125/1

Poor maiden on the Flat and comfortably held both starts over hurdles.

Form: 66

Minneigh Mozze¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis

300/1

Just poor form in bumpers and well held on completed start over hurdles in recent weeks.

Form: 70U8

Opticality¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: M Hunt

25/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and didn't achieve a great deal when fifth on her Uttoxeter hurdle debut 11 days ago.

Form: 5

Starlight Glance²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly

150/1

Well held in a bumper and maiden hurdle 9 months apart.

Form: 5-0

Greatness Awaits¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling

11/2

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m), winning at Epsom in September on his final start for Mick Channon. Starts out over hurdles in an ordinary race. One to consider.

Form:

The Rebel Breen^p⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price

125/1

Modest maiden on the Flat who doesn't strike as an obvious one to make a winning start over hurdles.

Form:

Non-Runners

Lethal Industry³⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: S Drinkwater J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Welsh Charger (6/5), Rocco Royale (3/1), Greatness Awaits (11/2), Fuji Rocks (11/2), Royal Max (17/2), Opticality (25/1), Lethal Industry (25/1), Scherbobalob (50/1), Estacas (66/1), Wide To West (100/1), The Rebel Breen (125/1), Longville Lilly (125/1), Starlight Glance (150/1), Hackberry (150/1), Howyouplaythegame (200/1), Minneigh Mozze (300/1)

WELSH CHARGER gets the nod on the back of his Huntingdon hurdle debut second last month. Greatness Awaits achieved enough on the Flat to think he could make an impact on his hurdle debut, while Fuji Rocks and Rocco Royale look capable of better on the back of mildly encouraging hurdle debut runs and should also get involved