15:10 Ludlow

Wednesday 22 February 2023

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

Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 52.2s

John Betjeman^b⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 109| D

10/3

Good second of 16 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, good to soft, 22/1) 58 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 2D5972

Court Royale¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 103| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Latest win in chase at Ffos Las in October. Pulled up in handicap chase (9/2) at Hereford (16f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Switches to hurdles with work to do.

Form: 32412P

Kingfast^p⁹³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 103

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Fair winner at 12f on flat. First run for yard after leaving Tom Symonds with big absence to overcome but no forlorn hope now going into handicaps. One to note in the betting.

Form: 2750/

Lunar Jet²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 100

13/2

12/1 and hooded for 1st time, laboured effort when fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (16f, soft) 21 days ago. More is needed.

Form: 522P/44

Patient Dream^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: William Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98

7/4

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, won 8-runner handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (16.6f, good) 15 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Up 6 lb but was well on top at the finish so a big player with headgear retained.

Form: 3-32501

Light In The Sky^h¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 97

12/1

100/1 and hooded for 1st time, only sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, good) 15 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 30/21-P6

Arctic Lodge⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 97

6/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 150/1, fourth of 10 in novice hurdle at Sandown (16f, soft) 81 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut but others look better treated at these weights.

Form: P/2P-54

Balgowan^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 95

10/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for William Haggas. 33/1, fourth of 10 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 35 days ago, slowly away. Reverts to hurdles for his handicap debut and not dismissed.

Form: 224

Non-Runners

Method Madness⁹⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: A Ralph J: Alex Edwards

Forecasts

Patient Dream (7/4), John Betjeman (10/3), Arctic Lodge (6/1), Lunar Jet (13/2), Balgowan (10/1), Light In The Sky (12/1), Method Madness (14/1), Kingfast (16/1), Court Royale (28/1)

PATIENT DREAM showed the benefit of cheekpieces when an emphatic scorer at Market Rasen and is weighted to go in again off a 6 lb higher mark with the headgear retained. John Betjeman is feared most on the back of his good Wincanton second ahead of handicap debutant Balgowan.