15:10 Ludlow

Thursday 18 January 2018

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 30.00s

1^st

Virak

911-12

10/11f

T: P F NichollsJ: Lorcan Williams (5)

Tracked leader, led 15th, made rest, clear from 2 out, stayed on well op Evens

2^nd

Real Milan

1311-12

7/1

T: Nick J JonesJ: Mr J H Jones (7)

Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, lost place before 12th, rallied 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace from next op 8/1

3^rd

Tugboat

1012-2

66/1

T: G Slade-JonesJ: Mr J Smith-Maxwell (7)

Jumped left throughout and raced wide, chased leaders, reminders after 14th, 2nd after next, every chance 4 out , went left and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd op 50/1

4^th

Mendip Express

1212-6

9/4

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: Mr D Maxwell (3)

Led, mistake and headed 15th, soon dropped to 3rd, trying to rally on outside when blundered and rider lost iron briefly 3 out, weakened op 2/1

5^th

Wild Bill

911-12

10/1

T: Mrs A RuckerJ: Mr Zac Baker

Held up in 5th place, weakened 15th, jumped left 3 out, tailed off op 11/1 tchd 14/1

Also Ran

Lilbitluso

1012-2

16/1

T: J J O'SheaJ: Mr G Crow (3)

Held up in touch in rear, fell 15th tchd 18/1

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Non-Runners

Now Ben¹⁸

Weight: 12-6| Age: 10

T: P Rowley J: Alex Edwards

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.80Pl:£2.10, £1.50EX:£5.60Trifecta:£66.30SF:£8.04Swingers:£2.20, £0.00, £0.00

Forecasts

Virak (10/11), Mendip Express (9/4), Now Ben (6/1), Real Milan (7/1), Wild Bill (10/1), Lilbitluso (16/1), Tugboat (66/1)

This looks very much a match between VIRAK and Mendip Express and in receipt of weight, the latter gets the vote in the hope that he can shrug off last season's form and prosper at this level. Three years his senior, Philip Hobbs-trained Mendip Express comes here in better recent form and can make a race of it. Now Ben and Real Milan can battle for third spot.