14:03 Ludlow

Wednesday 4 December 2024

All12:2812:5813:3014:0314:3515:1015:42

EK Mowers & Machinery Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 3m 51.1s

Arclight⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| D

12/1

Fair winning juvenile hurdler who immediately proved herself a much better chaser, winning first 3 starts over fences at the end of 2023. Never going after an early mistake in a Kempton Grade 2 in February and again let down by her jumping at Chepstow on her reappearance. Reverts to hurdling now.

Form: 8/111P-P

Panic Attack⁶⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| BF| D

14/1

Three-time hurdles winner who showed useful form over fences in 2022/23 season. Has a 21-month absence to overcome but has been given a chance by the assessor on first start for Dan Skelton. Watch betting.

Form: 271343/

Ip Up¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 117| D

9/2

Likeable sort who ran better than on her sole previous start over fences in Britain when second of 6 at Uttoxeter (2m) 18 days ago. Return to hurdling certainly no negative judged on last season's exploits and likely to be in the thick of the action.

Form: 426-542

Not Now Nathaniel^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| BF| D

14/1

Debut bumper winner who also made a successful start over hurdles (fitted with a hood) in 4-runner novice at Aintree in May. Looked slightly more straightforward when following up at Bangor but limitations rather exposed since and others more persuasive from a stiff-looking mark.

Form: 37-1124

Love Tree^h,t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 113| BF| CD

12/1

Dual hurdles winner who ran well in a first-time tongue strap after 7 months off when second to Tour Ovalie at Hereford on return in November. However, worryingly reverted to her weak-finishing ways on her Uttoxeter chasing debut since and now back over hurdles.

Form: 1451-24

Brendas Asking²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109| BF| CD

5/2

Promise in bumpers and easily best effort over hurdles when landing 9-runner handicap over C&D in October, always holding on. Ran respectably from a 7 lb higher mark when third at Exeter since and should remain competitive.

Form: 442-P13

Tour Ovalie³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 104| D

11/4

Fair in bumpers and of similar merit over hurdles, resuming winning ways in 5-runner handicap at Hereford the previous month, leading dying strides after forced to switch run-in. 3 lb rise highly unlikely to prevent another good run.

Form: 2-15431

Komedy Kicks¹⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 103| D

25/1

Fair maiden on Flat and showed similar form when landing a Worcester maiden and a Stratford novice in the summer of 2023. Pulled up on sole outing for Harriet Dickin at Newton Abbot in July but could revive on first start for Dan Skelton.

Form: 9/1212-P

Demoiselle Kap^b,t¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 101

14/1

Inconsistent sort who got back to winning ways in minor event chase at Pau in January. Mixed bag in 3 outings since. Has left Sophie Leech and market perhaps best guide setting out for a new yard.

Form: 351P-94

Forecasts

Brendas Asking (5/2), Tour Ovalie (11/4), Ip Up (9/2), Love Tree (12/1), Arclight (12/1), Panic Attack (14/1), Demoiselle Kap (14/1), Not Now Nathaniel (14/1), Komedy Kicks (25/1)

TOUR OVALIE was value for a bit extra over the result in overcoming some late interference at Hereford last month and a 3 lb rise may not be enough to prevent the follow up. C&D winner Brendas Asking seems highly likely to give another good account, with the likeable Ip Up completing the shortlist.