16:38 Ludlow

Sunday 12 May 2024

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

Sinclair Discovery Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 16:38 | Winning time: 5m 3.12s

Bethpage²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 96

6/1

Some encouragement in bumpers/mares' maidens and, well backed, saw off stable mate to make a winning handicap debut at Fontwell (17.7f) 23 days ago, asserting run in. Has to be of interest again now she's up and running. Up in trip.

Form: 66/6341-

Mactavish¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 95

5/1

Scored twice at Hereford late last year and creditable efforts in defeat from inflated marks thereafter. Probably needs to pull out a bit more but not discounted if arriving in same form following 129 days off.

Form: 631132-

Pawpaw^v,t¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 93| D

22/1

Scored twice for David Bridgwater last spring but he needs to bounce back in a major way after a break/returned to hurdles following a handful of poor runs over fences for present yard.

Form: 144PPP-

Deadlock⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 87

7/1

Fair form on the Flat and he ran creditably when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) in March. Feasible to think he could yet have more to offer in this sphere so worth a second look.

Form: 40664-

Flashy Boy^t1¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 87WS

7/2

Point winner who offered signs of encouragement over hurdles for Tom Lacey despite looking rather slow. Moved yards and had a breathing operation prior to return (tongue strap now on, too). Market confidence behind him would look significant.

Form: 15/5664-

Chinook¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 85

33/1

Ex-Irish mare ran well on second start for this stable when fifth over C&D last spring but not scaled same heights since, only sixth of 8 in a C&D handicap back from 5 months off 18 days ago.

Form: 875/FP6-

Methusalar^t,p1⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 80

9/1

Winner at Bangor for Alan King back in 2022 but struggled for present connections over both sets of obstacles in recent months. Cheekpieces reached for now.

Form: 46U6PP-

Karakoram^t,p⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Jones| T: G Harris| OR: 78| C

7/2

Successful at Taunton last spring but largely underwhelming efforts since despite sliding mark, fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (20f, good to soft, 6/1) 5 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 75689-4

No Worries^t,p¹⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 72| C

17/2

Veteran who won 3 times over hurdles in 2021/22 season and struck on chase debut thereafter. However, largely out sorts over hurdles during second half of last year. 6-month break needs to have perked him up.

Form: 43689P-

Non-Runners

Kingston Kid¹⁷³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: G Howell J: Tabitha Worsley

Kapamazov²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: H J Evans J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Karakoram (7/2), Flashy Boy (7/2), Mactavish (5/1), Bethpage (6/1), Deadlock (7/1), No Worries (17/2), Methusalar (9/1), Kingston Kid (10/1), Kapamazov (10/1), Pawpaw (22/1), Chinook (33/1)

BETHPAGE showed improved form to make a winning handicap debut at Fontwell 23 days ago and, now up and running, she looks of interest again boasting a far less exposed profile than most. Flashy Boy is another worth monitoring now handicapping on return for his new yard and market confidence behind him would look significant. Deadlock and Mactavish complete the shortlist.