16:10 Ludlow

Thursday 2 March 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Flowfit Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 3m 52.9s

Welsh Charger⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 111| CD

4/6

Just minor promise in a brace of bumpers but different story switched to hurdles, runner-up at Huntingdon before going one better over C&D last week. Sets the standard under a penalty.

Form: 6-521

Cumhacht^t⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss R Curtis

66/1

Just denied in bumper at Thurles for John Kiely on debut but no show in 3 runs for this yard. Hurdles debut.

Form: 2-978

Dickens^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

10/1

Fairly useful dual Flat winner. However, well beaten on both starts in 2022 (hooded second one) and was too free sent hurdling at Wetherby/Lingfield.

Form: 48

Gallopade^h1¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: W Greatrex| D

11/2

Schiaparelli gelding who won both bumper starts last season. Proved too much of a handful making his hurdling debut after 9 months off at Fakenham in October and worth another chance in a first-time hood.

Form: 11-6

Hackberry^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| D

200/1

Fair bumper/Flat winner during time with Brian Ellison but pulled up in hurdle in October (for Ann Duffield) and offered little both starts for this yard.

Form: 140/P0

Happy Sanchez²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: M Young

200/1

Unplaced sole start in points and shaped like a stayer when seventh of 14 in novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, good, 22/1) on NH debut. Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving Declan Queally.

Form: 77

Masked Dance⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley

7/1

Made the frame both starts in bumpers and showed ability on hurdles bow when third of 11 in mares' maiden at Southwell (15.8f) in November. Long way below that form at Huntingdon next time, however.

Form: 4436

Minneigh Mozze⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis

250/1

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

Form: 70U80

Jacks Profit^t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: P D Evans

50/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m). Showed aptitude for hurdling at Lingfield 16 days ago but didn't see it out at all (should stay). Tongue strap now applied.

Form: 0

John The Baptist^h,t⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

22/1

Fairly useful at best on Flat (stays 1m), below form last time for Michael Appleby. Half-brother to a fairly-useful hurdler.

Form:

Overstate^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| D

10/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 2m), improved when winning on stable debut at Kempton last month. Interesting recruit to hurdles.

Form:

By Pass^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 100

20/1

Modest Flat maiden and easily best effort over hurdles when third of 8 in juvenile hurdle (125/1) at Hereford (16.2f, good) 15 days ago. Not taken lightly receiving all the allowances.

Form: 5P3

Forecasts

Welsh Charger (4/6), Gallopade (11/2), Masked Dance (7/1), Dickens (10/1), Overstate (10/1), By Pass (20/1), John The Baptist (22/1), Jacks Profit (50/1), Cumhacht (66/1), Happy Sanchez (200/1), Hackberry (200/1), Minneigh Mozze (250/1)

OVERSTATE justified market confidence when making a winning debut for this yard on the AW at Kempton last month and could be up to making a successful start over hurdles in receipt of a handy weight-for-age allowance. Welsh Charger sets the standard under a penalty and is the obvious danger, though dual-bumper winner Gallopade is also a potential threat in a first-time hood having pulled too hard on his hurdles bow at Fakenham in October.