chased leaders, led 9th until mistake next, tailed off when pulled up after 13th
behind, blundered 3rd, headway into 4th and driven along 13th, struggling 18th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mistake 1st, chased leaders until pushed along and lost place after 9th, 5th and struggling approaching 15th, continued tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
led until headed 7th, behind from 12th, tailed off when left poor 3rd 3 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
chased leader, challenged from 8th, led before 10th, blundered and headed 13th, stayed close up, blundered 17th, poor 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
held up early, headway to chase leaders 9th, led 13th, clear 18th, jumped right 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on well
chased leaders, chased winner approaching 15th, no real impression approaching 3 out, kept on for clear 2nd
not fluent in rear, mistake 8th, blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
JUST SMUDGE doesn't have the most consistent of profiles but looks up to the task here ahead of Milton Des Bieffes and Fourty Acers. Venetia Williams' gelding has won three of his eight starts over fences so despite having let down backers a couple of times he remains a pretty solid betting proposition and, up just 4lbs for a convincing enough success last time, looks worth backing to follow up. Today's extra five furlongs or so hold no terror for the relatively lightly raced seven-year-old and two of those three wins have come here at Ludlow. David Evans has had a cracking year and his Milton Des Bieffes rates a player here despite racing off a career high mark. The nine-year-old won over course and distance last time in impressive enough fashion and although an 11lb punishment for that success looks a bit of an exaggeration the horse will stay the trip and indeed may have even improved for stepping up to it last time. Fourty Acers was comfortably held when second on his last run but did have the rest of the field well beaten off and therefore has a chance of this 2lbs lower mark. David Pipe's gelding is an out and out galloper and may expose any stamina flaws in his rivals should they go a strong enough pace, whilst win machine Little Shilling is another who has form at this trip and beyond. Tim Vaughan's seven-year-old owes connections nothing ahead of this return to fences but might pick up some prize money despite being a massive 41lbs higher than when last racing over the bigger obstacles. That increase is a reflection of the gelding's success over hurdles and while he was well held over them last time he races off 5lbs lower today and may have more improvement to come. Fresh Air And Fun is only a couple of pounds higher than when winning a similar race at Sandown in March but the horse hasn't been in the same form since, although this one¿s sole visit to Ludlow did result in success. Pairc Na Gcappall can be tough to catch when on song though has been anything but of late and so this looks best left to the in form Just Smudge.
Hopkins (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Keen, with leader, blundered 10th, reminders 12th, weakened next, behind and pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Little Shilling (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Templer (10-6) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Led, jumped right throughout, blundered 4th, headed approaching 8th, led again approaching 12th, headed approaching 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 17l behind I'moncloudnine (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mainly in rear, ridden and weakened 6 out, 9th of 11, 41l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Just Smudge 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 8th to 9th, led approaching 10th, clear when jumped right and mistake 4 out, ridden after next, wandered last, stayed on dourly flat, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Tyup Pompey (10-7) by 7l, 7 ran.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Prominent, lost place 6th, tailed off from 11th, 5th of 11, well behind Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Buck Mulligan 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd travelling well approaching 2 out, no extra under pressure after last, kept on one pace without reaching leaders, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Fine Call (10-11) at Downpatrick 2m 2f 4yo mdn hdl gf in Sep.
Milton Des Bieffes (FR) 10-3fav (10-1) Led until 4th, remained prominent, led 13th, in command when hit last, pushed clear, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov beating Night Safe (11-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
Freddie The Third (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 6th, mistake next, hampered 11th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 18l behind Rivaliste (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
