13:15 Ludlow

Thursday 16 January 2025

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Ian Meadows 65th Year Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Wadham| OR: 115

Shaped well sole start in bumpers and built on encouraging hurdles debut when second of 12 upped to 21f in a Warwick maiden last month. Remains open to improvement and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 432

Dwight K Schrute⁶⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: Jamie Snowden| D

£80,000 4-y-o. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/fair chaser in France La Henriade and fair 2m hurdle winner Docte Dina. Successful sole run between the flags in February 2023 and, though absent since, he needs a close look on Rules debut for his respected, in-form new yard.

Form: 1/

Grenardier²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley

Little impact in a couple of bumpers and similar story in pair of maiden/novice hurdles upon returning to action this winter. Handicaps will be more his bag after this.

Form: 6-6P6

Jack's Jury²⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

€65,000 3-y-o, Jukebox Jury gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/fairly useful chaser Jimmy Two Times and fair hurdler Edvardo. Last of 6 finishers sole start in Irish points in March but still much respected now setting out under Rules for top yard.

Form: 6-

Monty Bodkin^t1⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'NeillWS

Expensive as a store (out of Grade 1 winning mare) and improved when winning Doncaster bumper in February. Switched yards and shaped better than the distance beaten suggests sent hurdling after 9 months off when sixth at Carlisle (20f, good to soft) 2 months ago. Has had a wind op since.

Form: 261-6

Ocean Walz³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds

Finished runner-up all 3 starts in bumpers, so shade disappointing he couldn't continue the good work when eighth of 9 in novice hurdle at Hereford (19.7f, good to soft, 9/2) on hurdles bow 36 days ago, struggling after 4 out. This will reveal more.

Form: 22-28

Another Pearl⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: G Nicholls

Dam triple bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler. Signs of ability in bumpers but will probably be brought along gradually in this sphere, with a view to handicaps.

Form: 6-56

King's Consort⁶⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: G Nicholls

Youmzain mare. Dam multiple bumper winner/made frame sole start over hurdles. Placed on the second of her 2 starts between the flags back in March 2023. Probably best watched on Rules debut.

Form: 43/

Minneigh Mozze^t1¹⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: H James| OR: 74

Unconvincing profile, pulled up when last seen at Newton Abbot in July and returns in first time tongue-tie today having rejoined former stable.

Form: 0U800/P

The Dancing Lass³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley

Last of 6 in bumper at Bangor on debut in October and then trailed in last of 8 finishers switched to hurdles in a Hereford novice.

Form: 68

Non-Runners

Libre De Choeur³⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: C Boultbee-Brooks J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Aviation (3/1), Libre De Choeur (7/2), Jack's Jury (4/1), Monty Bodkin (5/1), Dwight K Schrute (5/1), Another Pearl (12/1), Ocean Walz (14/1), King's Consort (25/1), Grenardier (66/1), Minneigh Mozze (100/1), The Dancing Lass (100/1)

AVIATION is shaping up well and looked well served by the step up in trip when runner up in a Warwick maiden 5 weeks ago. Open to further progress, he earns the vote to come out on top. Monty Bodkin was better than the distance beaten suggests on yard/hurdles debut at Carlisle and rates the type to do much better. Newcomer Jack's Jury and Libre de Choeur are others to consider.