14:35 Ludlow

Wednesday 24 April 2024

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:0516:3717:1017:45

ORJ Law Firm Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 45.61s

Hurricane Harvey^t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| CD

6/1

Usually consistent and dispelled a couple of poor runs when third at Ascot a month ago, shaping like a return to this trip would suit. One to note from a potentially lenient mark.

Form: 394383

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Shantou Express⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 119

14/1

Bagged a small-field Stratford handicap (26.4f, good) in June but hasn't fired since and others are more appealing.

Form: 136897

Victoria Milano⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: A Ralph| OR: 116| C

5/1

Game winner first time up over hurdles at Ludlow (21.2f) before showing better form in defeat at Warwick (19f, heavy). Resumed winning ways in a muddling affair at Sandown in February. Out of depth at Cheltenham last time and should be back on track.

Form: 4-1218

Ubetya⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 115

22/1

Capitalised on a falling mark over fences at Cartmel in May but lost his way in that sphere and fared little better returned to hurdling at Wetherby 55 days ago. Plenty to prove.

Form: 153PP7

Charles St^p¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114| BF

40/1

Tricky customer who finally got the job done over hurdles when seeing off 9 rivals with blinkers refitted at Market Rasen in November. Underlined inconsistency at that course next time and has had 106-day break since. Cheekpieces go back on.

Form: 22-2514

Much Too Dear³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 113

4/1

Has run to a fair level over hurdles so far and shaped better than the result when second on handicap debut at Ascot last time, closing all the way to the line from an unpromising position. Still unexposed and makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 36-2B42

Planet Legend^p⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R Newland| OR: 112

18/1

Not at best on both hurdling outings towards the end of last year and arrives on the back of a poor showing on the level, so others make more appeal.

Form: 1F16-47

Armchair Farmer^t³⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112| BF

13/2

In good order when last seen, shaping well under an attacking ride when fourth at Huntingdon on latest outing. That was a year ago, however, so market vibes will be significant on return.

Form: 212124-

Chris Cool^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 111

9/1

Generally solid record over hurdles and got back on the up when seeing off an unexposed rival (pair clear) at Huntingdon last time. Should give another good account.

Form: 6-12331

Face d'Music²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 107

12/1

£100,000 purchase having been placed only start in Irish points and did well when second in a pair of 2m4f Hereford novice hurdles in November. Bit disappointing since, however.

Form: 322U3

Porter In The Park⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 103| D

9/2

Creditable third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, soft, 10/3) 42 days ago. On a fair mark if she can build on that, so merits consideration.

Form: 26-P663

Non-Runners

Fortunate Man³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Much Too Dear (4/1), Fortunate Man (4/1), Porter In The Park (9/2), Victoria Milano (5/1), Hurricane Harvey (6/1), Armchair Farmer (13/2), Chris Cool (9/1), Face d'Music (12/1), Shantou Express (14/1), Planet Legend (18/1), Ubetya (22/1), Charles St (40/1)

MUCH TOO DEAR is lightly raced and looked ahead of his mark when a staying-on second at Ascot last time, so he's worth chancing to get the better of last-time-out winner Fortunate Man, who probably hasn't reached his limit either. Hurricane Harvey is another one to note having slipped to an appealing mark.