Racecards
15:50 Ludlow
Henley Hall Gold Cup (A Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle Race) (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 3621-36
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey S Thomas
not fluent, with leader, lost place 4th, soon weakened
- Form 121/306
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and no impression from 3 out
- Form 543-022
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
- Form 402243
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs A Hamilton-Fairley
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
made all, ridden approaching 3 out, clear last, kept on
- Form 2P2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss S Wilton
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased winner from 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
- Form 401454
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer J Gallagher
- Jockey J Culloty
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, stayed on from 2 out, not trouble leaders
- Form 0P5P01
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer Mrs N Macauley
- Jockey B J Crowley
held up, headway when not fluent 6th, soon beaten
- Form P-03PP0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer W Goldsworthy
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, headway on inside approaching 6th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
Lilac
19- Form 00014
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Price
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened next
- Form 55-5P5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
held up, smooth headway after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last
In depth
Verdict
Scratch The Dove should now be spot on for this mares' only contest and is the choice to beat Fragrant Rose, with Comete du Lac and French Mannequin best of the rest. Scratch The Dove is yet another product of the female line that has served the Price family so well, but so far has just the one success to her name, at Leicester two years ago. She has shown enough on her last two outings to suggest that she will shortly add to that, and it is interesting that Tony McCoy rides again after sitting on her for the first time when second at Exeter three weeks ago. She made Researcher pull out all the stops that day, and although a longer trip would not go amiss, Scratch The Dove should still prove the one to beat. French Mannequin is only slightly better off at the weights with the selection and appears held, but Fragrant Rose could be a stumbling block. Her welter burden is negated by the claim of Sam Thomas and she too should be ready to run well after a couple of outings this term. Comete du Lac gained her first victory since coming over from France when landing a moderate affair at Chepstow last time and has more to do, while Iambe de La See is best watched in the market, given his legion of supporters in the Elite Racing Club. Scratch The Dove is sure to go well and will not go down without a fight under the champion.