13:40 Ludlow

Monday 27 November 2023

All12:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

Marsh Commercial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 31.29s

Braganza Bay^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 100

17/2

Dual hurdles winner at Hereford last season and successful start switched to fences in a 6-runner handicap there (25.2f, good) last month. That wasn't a strong contest but he won it in comfortable fashion and he's respected from 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 801U-61

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Gallow Ford²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price| OR: 99| D

11/2

Seen only sparingly since winning over hurdles at Exeter in April 2021 but shaped as if retaining some ability after a further 18 months off when fourth of 13 in handicap chase (14/1) at Warwick (20f, heavy) 20 days ago. Has won in points and remains low mileage as a chaser if able to build on that.

Form: 6214/4-4

Justshortofabubble^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: G Harris| OR: 94| D

9/2

Has proved remarkably consistent in recent months and took his form up another notch when winning 14-runner handicap chase (11/2) at Taunton (23f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Can't be discounted from 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 232141

On The Platform^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: B Clarke| OR: 87

9/1

Largely consistent in defeat for John Groucott last term and he ran respectably in first-time cheekpieces on debut for this yard when fourth of 9 in handicap chase at this course (20f, soft, 9/2) 32 days ago. Respected.

Form: 52262-4

Safe Destination²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 87| BF| D

10/3

Off the mark on his second start over fences when scoring at Uttoxeter (24f, soft) last month but added to an increasingly patchy profile when pulling up at Warwick 3 weeks ago. Others looks more solid.

Form: 664-P1P

Meechlands Magic^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Reed| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 85| BF

18/1

Showed himself a much better chaser than hurdler second time up over fences when off the mark in Worcester handicap (23f) in October, despite having been 10 lb out of the weights. Clipped heels and unseated at the fourth 5 days later, so he's well worth another chance.

Form: 44-491U

West Orchard^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: J Tizzard| OR: 83

9/2

Unreliable maiden over hurdles but having failed to complete on his chase bow, showed much improved form second time up over fences when landing 11-runner handicap chase (8/1) at Plumpton (19.8f, good to soft) 21 days ago. His task is now to back that up.

Form: 54-F261

Ballyrashane³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 81| D

20/1

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking in Irish points but he hasn't shown much in 4 maiden/novice hurdles under Rules. Will need step up in trip on chase debut to unlock some improvement.

Form: 316P7-0

Deadly Missile⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 76| D

12/1

Point winner who has bettered his bumper/hurdles form tackling fences, in the frame on his last 4 completed outings in this sphere, albeit making heavy enough weather of it when second of 7 in handicap chase at Hereford (25.2f, good to firm) 41 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 524F22

Voice Of Hope^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: M Young| OR: 73

125/1

Winning hurdler in Ireland remains a poor maiden over fences, little show when fifth of 7 in handicap at Sedgefield (21.1f, heavy) 11 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 7238-P5

Milanese Rose^p,t⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 73

20/1

Poor maiden who ran respectably when fourth at Worcester early in September. Bred to take to chasing but others are preferred.

Form: 26-52P4

Earcomesbob^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: P A Pritchard| OR: 69| D

150/1

Pulled up on 4 of his last 5 starts and it's hard to envisage him sparking back to life after a number of sour efforts.

Form: 4P4P-PP

Forecasts

Safe Destination (10/3), West Orchard (9/2), Justshortofabubble (9/2), Gallow Ford (11/2), Braganza Bay (17/2), On The Platform (9/1), Deadly Missile (12/1), Meechlands Magic (18/1), Ballyrashane (20/1), Milanese Rose (20/1), Voice Of Hope (125/1), Earcomesbob (150/1)

BRAGANZA BAY will probably have a tougher time of things here than when winning on chase debut at Hereford but a 7 lb rise looks manageable and Henry Daly's charge is fancied to follow up. Meechlands Magic has also already surpassed his hurdles form and remains worth viewing positively after a non-completion last time, with the reliable Justshortofabubble likely to give another good show.