Racecards
14:05 Ludlow
Bitterley Beginners' Chase (Class E)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 51/U3
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey M Bradburne
mistakes, always behind, tailed off when jumped very slowly 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 3223-P3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
prominent, led 3rd, ridden after 4 out, headed last, stayed on
Hoppertree
16- Form 04F/U-PF
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Brookhouse
- Jockey N Carter
held up and keen, headway 3rd, joined leader when stumbled badly, then unseated rider 10th
Isotop (FR)
22- Form 24400/F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer John Allen
- Jockey A Scholes
behind, headway 11th, hit 3 out and 2 out, ridden last, every chance flat, edged right, not quickened
- Form 440
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey B Fenton
prominent to 5th, hit 7th, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
- Form 252/534
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
in touch, went 2nd 11th, ridden after 4 out, led last, driven out
- Form 14P/251-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
behind, some headway 11th, weakened 15th
- Form 233-3PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C Down
- Jockey James Davies
led to 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
- Form P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer I Brown
- Jockey Mr A Brown
soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
- Form 16P-PPP
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey A O'keeffe
prominent, mistake 7th, ridden after 11th, weakened next
- Form 0PPU0/P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off and fell 3 out
- Form 61-540
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer S A Brookshaw
- Jockey R Greene
prominent, led 2nd to 3rd, ridden after 11th, weakened 14th
- Form 00-455P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
not fluent, prominent to 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
An open beginners chase where the ability to confidently jump a fence at speed has so far eluded at least a handful of the runners. Therefore, it may pay to concentrate on just a few when drawing up the shortlist - with Benbecula just preferred over Long Walk, Jaoka du Gord and Ungaretti. Benbecula has the edge on his much improved running behind Henrietta Knight's One Nation at the start of the year and a repeat of anything like that performance would be good enough to hold his rivals today. Although it is hard to assess just what Beat The Bank achieved when at least completing behind Janus Du Cochet at Exeter last time, a move for him will be interesting. Long Walk is going the right way and is the preferred option out of the remainder to give Benbecula the most to do.