Racecards
14:10 Ludlow
Openbet 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (Div 2) (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 169y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,599
- 2nd: £763
- 3rd: £382
- 4th: £191
- Form PU5-1PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
in touch on outside of main group, close up after 5th, chased leaders when hit 3 out, effort next, soon ridden, every chance last, one pace flat, held when lost 2nd towards finish
- Form F7310/F-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in touch main group, close up after 5th, ridden and one pace after 3 out, no impression next, weakened last
- Form P03/3P-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
led to 1st, with leader and clear of rest after 3rd, led narrowly before next where blundered, driven and headed before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
- Form 3753
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up behind, smooth headway to track leaders before 3 out, challenged next, led approaching last, ridden clear flat, kept on well
- Form 577
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R Johnson
held up behind, tracked leaders after 4 out, driven and one pace after next, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no impression with winner
- Form 2-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
took keen hold, led 1st, clear with one other after 3rd, headed narrowly before next, led again before 3 out, headed when mistake last, no extra
- Form 59-07
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind, no danger after, tailed off
- Form 067-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
in touch main group, close up after 5th, tracked leaders before 3 out, weakened from next
In depth
Verdict
Boolavard King sets the standard on hurdling form with a decent second at Southwell last time, whilst Britanio Bello and bumper winner, Beatu, could also contend. Space Oddity has been off for over 500 days after finishing second of three in a French hurdle but has joined Harry Fry and has to be of interest. CHOCCA WOCCA is another back after an absence but looked a very promising sort in bumpers last year, including a fine second in Listed grade. She's hopefully ready to go and will take some beating if equally adept over timber.
Formwatch
Beallandendall (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders, not fluent 6th or 7th, soon outpaced, weakened 9th, not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 2m (3) hvy in Jan.
Beatu (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, clear before 4th, until before 3 out, headed before and fell 2 out, at Catterick 2m mdn (5) sft in Feb.
Boolavard King (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 4th, ridden and headed before last, no chance with winner, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 6l behind All Set To Go (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) sft in Dec.
Britanio Bello (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, 6th and some headway 3 out, 5th when mistake 2 out, no impression, left 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 8 1/4l behind Scooter Boy (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Set In My Ways (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, some headway after 7th, no impression, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 17, 36 1/2l behind Wade Harper (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Space Oddity (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 9, 3l behind Risk Away (10-7) at Moulins 2m 1f gs in Sep.
Another Cobbler (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Bigmartre (11-5) at Haydock 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Weston Flame 100-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closed after 2nd, struggling 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Chocca Wocca 8-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 19, 1 3/4l behind Hollies Pearl (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f lst (1) gd in Apr.