Racecards
14:35 Ludlow
Ludlow Golf Club Mares' Only Novices' Chase (Class D)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Form P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer R Williams
- Jockey Mr J Cook
soon led, saddle slipped and ran out 3rd
- Form 40/6P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey R Flavin
tracked leaders, mistakes 11th and 12th, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 524146-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J O'Shea
- Jockey Gary Richards
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up lame before 4 out, dismounted
- Form 542044-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer J Mullins
- Jockey Mr R Young
held up in touch, headway 12th, with leader 3 out, led next, pushed clear flat
- Form 0PPU56-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey A P McCoy
left in lead 3rd, clear 5th, mistake 11th, ridden after 13th, headed when not fluent 2 out, one pace from next
In depth
Verdict
Lirfox was a different class to these over hurdles, and cannot be opposed on her chasing debut, with Queen's Pageant the safest option for the forecast. Martin Pipe's six-year-old was a dual hurdle winner in France, and ran a super race when third in Grade 2 company at Aintree on only her second start for new connections. Beaten just a head at Ayr after that, her form stands out in this field and the fact that she is being sent over the larger obstacles so soon suggests she has been schooling well. Queen's Pageant, on the other hand, makes a somewhat belated attempt over fences at the age of nine, but was rated 106 over hurdles and if living up to that sort of mark should be good enough to chase the likely short-priced favourite home.