15:40 Ludlow

Wednesday 6 December 2023

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

Marsh Commercial Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 57.77s

Jim De Sarti²⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

5/4

Improved from debut when winning 7-runner amateurs maiden at Loudeac (by 1½ lengths from Idrolix, staying on well to lead last few strides) in April. Not seen since but warrants considerable respect under a penalty on first start for his powerful yard.

Form: 31-

A Pro Po

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

10/1

Milan gelding. Closely related to a winner, and half-brother to useful hurdler Secrete Stream and fair hurdler Lady Iseult. One to note on debut.

Form:

Badlands Boy⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

66/1

Diamond Boy gelding who looked in need of the experience first time up when tailed off in bumper at Bangor (16.7f, soft) 9 weeks ago. Can only be watched on the back of that.

Form: 6

Celtic Sea

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

33/1

Youmzain gelding. Dam, poor maiden hurdler/chaser, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/modest chase winner (stayed 2¾m) Coastley. Stable has had a couple of bumper winners lately so a market move would be worth noting.

Form:

Galway Reel

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams

40/1

Highland Reel gelding. Half-brother to numerous winners, including high-class hurdler/useful chaser Wicklow Brave. Makes some paper appeal.

Form:

Illico De Montave²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T H Weston

66/1

Unplaced sole start in points and still looked clueless a year on when well held in bumper at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) last month. Big step forward needed.

Form: 7-0

Lightningupourdays²²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph

12/1

Telescope gelding who produced a promising first effort amidst greenness when fourth of 8 in bumper at Bangor (16.7f, good to firm) 7 months ago. Could build on that here.

Form: 4-

Nelsons Star

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

22/1

£18,500 3-y-o, Mount Nelson gelding. Dam unraced sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 25f) Real Milan. Market check advised.

Form:

Platenium²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B PaulingWS

8/1

12/1, shaped as if needing the run when seventh of 16 in bumper at Huntingdon (15.8f, good) on debut 6 months ago. Had a wind op since last seen and needs to build on it.

Form: 7

Strong As Steel

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland

20/1

Phoenix Reach colt. Brother to bumper winner/fair hurdler Samson's Reach. Newcomer from a stable with a healthy 11-48 record in bumpers in the last 5 seasons.

Form:

Ted's Gift¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Anthony O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

15/2

Ran to only a modest level when placed both starts during the summer. More needed for win purposes but could have more to offer.

Form: 32

What's One More²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

5/1

Mount Nelson filly who showed plenty of ability but only after displaying a similar amount of temperament beforehand when third of 16 in bumper at Warwick (16f, heavy) 4 weeks ago. Fancied to be in the mix with that initial effort under her belt.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Jim De Sarti (5/4), What's One More (5/1), Ted's Gift (15/2), Platenium (8/1), A Pro Po (10/1), Lightningupourdays (12/1), Strong As Steel (20/1), Nelsons Star (22/1), Celtic Sea (33/1), Galway Reel (40/1), Badlands Boy (66/1), Illico De Montave (66/1)

Though she may have hinted at temperament pre-race, WHAT'S ONE MORE still showed plenty of ability when third at Warwick 4 weeks ago and sure to have derived plenty from that initial effort, Emma Lavelle's filly gets the nod at the expense of French-recruit Jim de Sarti, who was last seen winning in April and must be respected having joined a top stable. Newcomers Celtic Sea and Strong As Steel can fight out third spot.