Top Wood puts claim for late ticket to Cheltenham Festival with Ludlow win

A review of the action from Ludlow on Thursday as Top Wood staked a claim for a trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

Top Wood may have earned a late call up to the team set to represent trainer David Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival after ending a barren spell with a decisive second success over fences in the Forbra Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ludlow.

Although without a win over larger obstacles since making a winning start over them at Towcester in May 2014, the nine-year-old rectified that with a commanding win in the three-mile affair.

Up with the pace throughout, the 9/1 shot - who was refitted with blinkers - galloped on remorselessly for a 16-length success in the hands of Conor O'Farell from Foundry Square, in a race which only four of the nine runners completed.

Betfred cut Top Wood, who formed the opening leg of an across-the-card double for Pipe, into 16/1 from 33/1 for the Kim Muir, along with trimming him into 14/1 from 25/1 for the Midlands National.

Pipe said: "We thought he had a good chance if he came back to his best form. He is a bit in and out, but Conor gave him a great ride.

"We tried him in a hood last time but that didn't work so we were back to the blinkers today, while the step up in trip helped.

"He is going to be reassessed now, so he will find it harder. I've got to speak to the owner. We may head to the Kim Muir as he is in that, but we will have a look at the Midlands National."

Beallandendall showed his 100/1 third at the track last month was no fluke when flooring odds-on favourite Querry House in the opening Three Counties Equine Hospital Novices' Hurdle.

The writing was on the wall for the Oliver Sherwood-trained 4/9 chance rounding the home turn of the two-mile prize with the Matt Sheppard-trained eight-year-old cruising in the hands of his son, Stan.

Although flattening two out it failed to prevent the 12/1 winner from going on to score by eight lengths.

The winning trainer said: "To be honest it's unusual for someone like me to win a novice hurdle as we are usually muddling around in handicaps. For me to have a horse win a novice hurdle like that is very thrilling.

"I didn't know what to expect last time when he was 100-1, but he has obviously come on for that run. Two miles in this sort of company is OK for him.

"He will probably be the highest-handicapped horse in my yard soon so we might have to try him over fences."

Lizzie Kelly enjoyed riding another winner in what has been a memorable campaign when steering home the consistent Dolores Delightful (2/1) for her step-father Nick Williams in the Barrels Mares' Handicap Hurdle.

Having survived a mid-race blunder the 5lb claimer made the most of the six-year-old's staying power in the three-mile contest to grind out an eight-length victory.

Matt Griffiths celebrated his first winner since riding out his 3lb claim at Taunton at the end of last month as Daveron (6/1) followed up his Wincanton win for trainer Jeremy Scott in the Wye Valley Brewery Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

The Henry Oliver-trained Mighty Leader (12/1) stayed on from another post code to take the Henman Marquees 'National Hunt' Novices Handicap Hurdle, while Daymar Bay (50/1) from the yard of Gareth Thomas landed a surprise win in the George Jones Memorial Hunters' Chase.

Apterix (3/1) chinned long-time leader Celestial Magic almost on the line in the concluding Perrott Properties Ltd Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.