12:50 Ludlow

Wednesday 6 December 2023

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:0715:40

Marsh Commercial Novices' Claiming Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 5.35s

Protector Pete²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton

150/1

Half-brother to useful hurdler/fair chaser Petrastar but offered nothing in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield last month.

Form: P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Zuraig^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 89

11/1

Winner of a Leicester seller on the Flat in May, but has otherwise struggled on the level this year and he hasn't cut much ice over hurdles.

Form: 83/37-59

Iddergem^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 107

6/4

Didn't need to be at best when winning 4-runner selling hurdle at Stratford (18.7f, heavy, 9/4) 34 days ago by 3 lengths from Laser Focus. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Every chance he'll follow up.

Form: 2P1/32-1

Brackenmix¹⁷¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R J Armson

80/1

£13,000 6-y-o, Fair Mix gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser Midnight Moss. Fourth sole start in points (Mar 2019).

Form: 4/

Laser Focus^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 102

17/2

A fair maiden hurdler for Henry De Bromhead but below that level so far for current stable. Can't be fully dismissed in a weak race, however.

Form: 555244

Tip Top Tonto^b1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 94

11/1

Fair form at best but he arrives out of sorts, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon a month ago. Drops in grade with blinkers applied.

Form: 2F-37PP

Uncle Arthur^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 84| D

11/10

Poor maiden hurdler who has threatened a bigger effort on occasions but again found little at Taunton last time. Down in grade with tongue strap refitted, so no forlorn hope.

Form: 05-6U40

Tara Vango^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Coulson

250/1

Well beaten on debut in a bumper during the summer and didn't fare any better switched to hurdles at Hereford. Hard to warm to.

Form: 67

Forecasts

Uncle Arthur (11/10), Iddergem (6/4), Laser Focus (17/2), Zuraig (11/1), Tip Top Tonto (11/1), Brackenmix (80/1), Protector Pete (150/1), Tara Vango (250/1)

IDDERGEM had something to spare when landing a seller at Stratford last month and all of his rivals have questions to answer in one way or another, so he's an obvious choice. Uncle Arthur is a threat if he can see the race out better and Tip Top Tonto can feature if blinkers have a positive effect.