16:03 Ludlow

Sunday 12 May 2024

All13:4314:1814:5315:2816:0316:3817:13

Sinclair Discovery Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 2.31s

Pearl Island^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 100

11/2

Still a maiden and only fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle (9/1) at this C&D (soft) 40 days ago. More is required.

Form: 2/48U55-

Nadim^t,p²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Reed| T: R G Hawker| OR: 99| BF

33/1

Visored for 1st time, seventh of 9 in handicap hurdle (11/8) at Fontwell (17.7f, good) 8 months ago on his final run for Milton Harris. Cheekpieces back on with plenty more needed for his new yard.

Form: 211137-

Musique De Fee¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: G Nicholls| OR: 96| CD

7/2

20/1, much improved on his handicap debut when winning over C&D (good) 18 days ago. Not taken lightly despite a 4 lb rise.

Form: 364041-

Awesome Foursome^v1,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 96

10/3

12/1, creditable third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, good) 23 days ago. Visor on for 1st time and in the mix.

Form: 523233-

Bear Claws^t,p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 94

9/1

Resumed winning ways on Flat at Wolverhampton last month so merits serious consideration back in this sphere off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 2409/89-

Fenney Brook⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price| OR: 89| CD

16/1

C&D winner but only eleventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (19.7f, soft) 46 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 601930-

Behind The Veil^t¹²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 87WS

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Needed stiffer test when seventh of 13 in novice hurdle (80/1) at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) 125 days ago. Up in trip for her handicap debut so very much one to consider on the back of a wind op.

Form: 8P87-

Jaxonne⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 81

9/4

Lightly-raced maiden who posted his best effort when fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, heavy) 81 days ago. Needs to build on it now.

Form: 0/8904-

Kracquer^b1¹³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 80

100/1

20/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, last of 7 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) 138 days ago. Blinkers are reached for now.

Form: 06P/U67-

Alfie Sharp^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 75

66/1

80/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, twelfth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (26.4f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 60/050-

Non-Runners

Express Surprise²⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: C Boultbee-Brooks J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Jaxonne (9/4), Awesome Foursome (10/3), Musique De Fee (7/2), Pearl Island (11/2), Bear Claws (9/1), Express Surprise (10/1), Behind The Veil (14/1), Fenney Brook (16/1), Nadim (33/1), Alfie Sharp (66/1), Kracquer (100/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but BEAR CLAWS returns to this sphere on a good mark and in winning form from the Flat so edges the vote. Behind The Veil is feared most now going handicapping on the back of breathing surgery, with Express Surprise and Musique de Fee also in the picture.