15:15 Ludlow

Wednesday 26 April 2023

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2316:5317:28

H.R.Smith Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 3.16s

Rocky Lake⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

17/2

Lightly-raced winning hurdler who shaped with plenty of promise when staying on for fourth on chase debut at Bangor (20.3f) in October. Clearly wasn't 100% next time and might have needed the run at Huntingdon. Up in trip.

Form: 152-456

Seigneur Des As^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M F Harris| OR: 114| CD

9/2

Off the mark in a 6-runner event over C&D in February and was a good second back over hurdles at Doncaster next time. However, needs to shrug off a below-par run at Newbury.

Form: 442124

Prevaricate²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 113| D

12/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler for Gordon Elliott. Looks the part for chasing but well held all 3 starts for this yard this term, albeit not disgraced in form terms last twice.

Form: 418-P85

Creative Control³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 113| D

33/1

Dual hurdles winner last season and stepped up on previous chase form when scoring in ready fashion at Musselburgh (23.8f) in December. Runner-up next 3 subsequent starts but turned in a rare poor effort at Carlisle.

Form: 51222P

The Wrekin⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 113| C

7/2

Three-time winner of novice hurdles in 2021 who largely performed well in handicaps subsequently in 2021. Missed all of last year but stepped up on belated return when third at Ludlow and entitled to come on again.

Form: 1756-63

Great D'Ange^t⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T R George| OR: 107| D

10/1

Back to winning ways when taking 8-runner handicap chase at Huntingdon (23.6f, good to soft). However, he folded pretty tamely at Doncaster and Wincanton since.

Form: F23184

Smoking Pigeon^t⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106| BF| D

8/1

Winning pointer who stepped up on chase bow/return when off the mark at Huntingdon. Probably paid the price for an attacking ride at Kempton and remains low mileage for his age.

Form: 23F-315

Marettimo¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 105| C| D

25/1

Bagged a trio of handicap chases at up to 3m last season, the latest off this mark at Ffos Las 12 months ago. However, nowhere near that level in a handful of appearances this time round.

Form: 11-PP45

Hipop Des Ongrais⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 103

3/1

Left chase bow well behind when winning at Fontwell in December. Disappointed 2 months later at Chepstow but quickly back on track when third at Taunton, left with too much to do. Remains of interest.

Form: 15-7183

Kabrit²³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Alex Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 102| D

12/1

Just respectable efforts at best early part of this season but is now 3 lb below last winning mark. Off 7 months.

Form: 5-32644

Non-Runners

Trevada⁵⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: O Sherwood J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Hipop Des Ongrais (3/1), The Wrekin (7/2), Seigneur Des As (9/2), Smoking Pigeon (8/1), Rocky Lake (17/2), Great D'Ange (10/1), Prevaricate (12/1), Kabrit (12/1), Trevada (12/1), Marettimo (25/1), Creative Control (33/1)

HIPOP DES ONGRAIS quickly got back on track when third at Taunton and looks capable of defying this sort of mark. Kabrit is potentially well treated if ready to go after 7 months off so is shortlisted, while it's still early days for Rocky Lake, who is back down in class.