Racecards
15:20 Ludlow
ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Racing Excellence 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 171y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £8,100 added
- Winner: £5,263
- 2nd: £1,545
- 3rd: £773
- 4th: £386
- Form 3-14552
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey James Bowen
led until 15th, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, led flat, stayed on
- Form 1104PU
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
tracked leader, challenged 7th until before 10th, lost 2nd 11th, hit 15th, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra and lost 3rd close home
- Form 025-425
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Mrs N S Evans
- Jockey Hugh Nugent
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, mistake 9th, behind 12th, pulled up after 15th
- Form 358P32
- Age 11
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Mrs K Stephens
- Jockey Lorcan Williams
chased leaders on outside, soon niggled along, lost place before 3rd, headway 8th, went 2nd 11th, led 15th, headed before 4 out, led 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, just held
- Form P9512-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer B Barr
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden before 12th, stayed on same pace from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, went 3rd close home
- Form 0-44155
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
It's over three years since It's A Steal won and though placed in his last two starts he's been beaten a long way. Veauce De Sivola is 1-21 over fences though that victory was gained on heavy going at Lingfield in March so he's not easily dismissed. Agreement showed a bit of dash when runner-up at Stratford and will have found fast going against him at Leicester while Jack Snipe was in front when unseating three out at Plumpton and completed a double in the summer. If the latter handles the ground he should go well while HEDGINATOR produced a fine effort in a better race than this at Sandown and, in the hope he can repeat that performance on this testing ground, he can go one better. Winning bumper and hurdler Cougar's Gold made a reasonable start over fences at Ffos Las and should have learned from the experience.
Formwatch
Hedgeinator (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Led 1st, prominent, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Pete The Feat (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Jack Snipe 16-1 (11-5) With leader, led 4 out, narrow advantage when sprawled on landing and unseated rider after next, at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Agreement (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 10th, outpaced before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 31l behind Running Wolf (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in Nov.
It's A Steal (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Led to 3rd, led again 8th headed before 12th, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 21l behind More Than Luck (11-10) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Veauce De Sivola (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders to before 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Cougar's Gold (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, went 2nd from 5th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Looksnowtlikebrian (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.