15:40 Ludlow

Thursday 29 February 2024

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2317:24

George Rickards Birthday Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 11.67s

Della Casa Lunga^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 125| C

2/1

Better than ever when making it fifth time lucky for new yard in 21f course handicap 22 days ago. Proven over this far and her 6 lb rise is offset by her rider's 7lb claim. Lots to like.

Form: 2-P3281

Midnightreflection^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 123| D

12/1

Registered a fifth career success with battling victory at Ascot (3m, good) in November. Shaped better than the result when sixth of 11 at Kempton (3m) over Christmas but her run of good form came to a halt at Lingfield last month.

Form: 5-U2168

Space Voyage^p1,t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| BF| C

11/1

Took very well to hurdling last term, winning 3 small-field novice events, including here. Creditable third in 21f Wincanton handicap in November but needs to shrug off lesser efforts twice since. Has first-time cheekpieces added to her tongue tie.

Form: 11-7357

Phillapa Sue^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 114| D

16/1

Winner of a 3m Doncaster (good to soft) before Christmas but failed to reproduce that when only seventh of 16 at Newbury since.

Form: 66-4217

Holly Hartingo^p1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 112| C

11/1

Dual hurdles scorer in 2021/22 but lightly raced since. Posted a solid fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Kempton (3m, heavy) over Christmas but pulled up at Newbury since. Needs first-time cheekpieces to help spark a revival. Yard won this race last year.

Form: 7/3-P35P

Time In The Sun²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: H D Daly| OR: 110

7/1

Runner-up in a course bumper last spring. Improved effort over hurdles when 2 lengths second of 14 in 21f Wincanton novice 4 weeks ago. Unexposed now handicapping from an opening mark which looks workable.

Form: 8-2402

Fortuna Ligna^p,t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 108

4/1

Fair form in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, justifying cramped odds when landing a mares' maiden at Chepstow (19.5f) last spring. Creditable efforts in handicaps around 3m on 3 of her 4 starts this term but she'll need to find a bit more to win.

Form: 41-2545

Pretending²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 105

4/1

Opened her account as a hurdler at Sandown (2½m) in December. Backed it up when third over 19.5f at Lingfield and shaped as if still in form when third over an inadequate 17f at Carlisle since. Player if stamina holds over this much longer trip.

Form: 82-F143

Forecasts

Della Casa Lunga (2/1), Pretending (4/1), Fortuna Ligna (4/1), Time In The Sun (7/1), Holly Hartingo (11/1), Space Voyage (11/1), Midnightreflection (12/1), Phillapa Sue (16/1)

7 lb-conditional Cameron Iles has a very healthy strike-rate in handicap hurdles this season and can boost that further on DELLA CASA LUNGA, who looks fairly treated up 6 lb for her course win 3 weeks ago even before her rider's allowance is taken into account. Handicap newcomer Time in The Sun is an interesting opponent, while Pretending should also have a say if her stamina holds now stepping up to 3m.