12:40 Ludlow

Wednesday 20 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Tanners Claret Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 6m 26.13s

Bobhopeornohope^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 139| CD

11/2

Produced a game front-running display when landing this race 12 months ago prior to a good fourth in a stronger contest at Kempton in February. Never figured on return at Warwick in November but return to a right-handed track a plus now. Better showing anticipated.

Form: 2/314P-P

Latitude³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 138| CD

3/1

Progressive chaser who scored over C&D in March and followed up in good style at Kempton (3m) in May. Shaped as if needing last month's reappearance run at Cheltenham and likely he'll come on plenty for that. Worth considering.

Form: 3321-10

Musical Slave^p³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| C| D

20/1

Landed 3m veterans' chase at Exeter in February and back on track with a good comeback run at Wincanton, helped by a better round of jumping than he often manages. Didn't take to the Cross-Country course at Cheltenham since and will need to keep the errors at bay here.

Form: 71PP-20

Jet Plane^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| C

12/1

Showed improved form when successful here (25.7f) in May and made light of 5 month absence to follow up at Newton Abbot in October. Probably best not judged too harshly on his exploits at Warwick/Sandown since but he remains 4 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 34-114P

Jimmy The Digger²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 123| C

17/2

Held his form well last season, winning at Cheltenham (25f) in October and having an excuse when pulled up on his final outing (bled). Shaping well before an unfortunate unseat on return at Aintree but not in same form at Warwick 4 weeks ago. Still, he can't be dismissed from easing mark.

Form: 427P-U5

Quoi De Neuf^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| C| D

9/1

Returned to winning ways in 4-runner handicap chase at Fakenham (21.2f) in June and dispelled pair of lesser efforts when second at Catterick (19.2f) 26 days ago, challenging 2 out and keeping on. This trip probably at the limit of his stamina.

Form: 2-41092

Gaboriot^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 122| D

5/2

7-y-o who has thrived in recent months, resuming winning ways at Kempton (3m) and stepped up further on that when running out a 7-length winner at Doncaster (3m) 33 days ago. Jumped soundly then and has to merit respect again in hat-trick bid.

Form: U23-211

Tide Times²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 108| CD

13/2

All 3 of his wins over fences have come here (the latest over extended 25f trip in January). Hasn't been at his best in recent months though, fourth of 9 in handicap chase at Hereford (25.2f) 3 weeks ago. Comes here operating 5 lb out of the weights and others make greater appeal.

Form: P3P-4P4

Forecasts

Gaboriot (5/2), Latitude (3/1), Bobhopeornohope (11/2), Tide Times (13/2), Jimmy The Digger (17/2), Quoi De Neuf (9/1), Jet Plane (12/1), Musical Slave (20/1)

A good quality handicap with the vote in favour of LATITUDE. Largely progressive over fences, he shaped much better than the bare result on return to action at Cheltenham 32 days ago and the balance of his form in the spring suggests his present mark remains exploitable. Gaboriot arrives in search of the hat-trick and is feared, with Bobhopeornohope fancied to leave his reappearance run at Warwick in his wake returned to this venue.