19:00 Ludlow

Tuesday 9 May 2023

All16:5017:2517:5518:2519:0019:3020:0020:30

G.C.Rickards Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 3m 44.10s

Carole's Pass^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 126| D

9/2

Hurdles winner in France last summer and followed up back from a break at Newbury in November. Bounced back from a couple of below par efforts when fifth of 15 in first-time cheekpieces at Ayr (2m, good) recently and she's a major player off the same mark.

Form: 311465-

Finest View^t1⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 125| CD

7/1

Won 4 on the bounce for Alan King last spring and stepped up on low-key yard debut when third at Taunton (16.5f, good) in February. Seemingly found step up to 19.8f on soft ground too much of a test at Sandown last time and not discounted back down in trip here with a tongue strap added.

Form: 114535-

Tap Tap Boom^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 119| CD

33/1

Back-to-back winner over fences at Plumpton/Ludlow back in November but not scaled same heights since the turn of the year, safely held back hurdling with cheekpieces enlisted at Bangor last time.

Form: 11U635-

Shallow River⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

7/1

Bumper/novice hurdle winner during 2021/22 campaign and good second to Filey Bay (subsequently placed twice in top handicaps) on return at Wincanton in December. Well below that level both starts since but reproduction of that Wincanton form would put him firmly in the picture.

Form: 411/2P4-

Galata Bridge²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117| D

13/2

Emphatic winner at Huntingdon last May and acquitted himself well off 12 lb higher in a Class 2 Market Rasen handicap next time. Rather disappointing final 2 starts of 2022, though, and entitled to come on for this following a 7-month break.

Form: 4/3146B-

Socialist Agenda^p⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 117| DWS

22/1

Bagged a Musselburgh handicap (15.6f, good to soft) off 1 lb higher last February and solid second over the same C&D back from a break in December. Not in the same form since but will be a threat if subsequent wind op has had the desired effect.

Form: 18/8267-

Samuel Spade³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 123| D

11/1

No more than a fair handicapper on the Flat but has quickly reached a higher level over hurdles, winning at Kempton and Huntingdon and a good second in a Class 2 event at the latter course in between. However, limitations exposed the last twice and the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 12104-

Kincardine^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116| D

7/2

Pulled up first 2 starts since returning to action in January but combination of the dropping back in trip, wind op and fitting of cheekpieces triggered a return to form when making all at Exeter (16.7f, heavy). Has to enter calculations, for all that more is needed up 4 lb here.

Form: P12/PP1-

Bombyx⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: L Wadham| OR: 115| D

25/1

Useful on the Flat for James Fanshawe and made a winning start over hurdles in March 2021. Hasn't stood much racing since and almost certainly needed the run at Stratford in March, so this run should reveal more.

Form: 13P2/P-

Prime Time Lady^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 104| D

28/1

Exuberant sort who was improved when scoring twice over hurdles last May. However, pulled up on return/chase debut in January and equally poor in a handicap hurdle over this C&D last time.

Form: 112P34-

Lipa K⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 103| D

11/1

Bumper winner in Ireland last May and got the job done at the fifth attempt over hurdles when landing a 4-runner handicap at Warwick (2m, heavy). 4 lb rise fair enough but has more on his plate this time.

Form: 183671-

Casi Crudo²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 108

15/2

Fair maiden on Flat for Charlie & Mark Johnston and off the mark over hurdles in juvenile at Market Rasen in December. Matched that level of form when third on handicap bow in this sphere at Southwell (15.8f, soft) and he's not without hope down 3 lb here.

Form: 312453-

Non-Runners

Cabrakan³²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Kincardine (7/2), Carole's Pass (9/2), Galata Bridge (13/2), Shallow River (7/1), Finest View (7/1), Casi Crudo (15/2), Lipa K (11/1), Samuel Spade (11/1), Cabrakan (12/1), Socialist Agenda (22/1), Bombyx (25/1), Prime Time Lady (28/1), Tap Tap Boom (33/1)

The vote goes to CAROLE'S PASS, who returned to form when fifth in a competitive Ayr handicap last month, and with just half-a-dozen starts in this sphere under her belt, she may well have more to offer now back on track. The one at the bottom of the weights, Casi Crudo, should have a part to play, while Exeter-winner Kincardine and Finest View are others to consider.