Racecards
14:30 Ludlow
Racing Post 'hands And Heels' Series Selling Hurdle (con/am) (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 841135
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Jim Best
- Jockey D P O'Dwyer
held up in touch, raced keenly, hampered just after 3rd, not fluent 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat
- Form 5-P7U7P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey Harry Skelton
led until ridden and headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey Mr M Price
held up and behind, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, shaken up and effort approaching 3 out, no impression
- Form UP/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
prominent, raced keenly, weakened under pressure after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form P0UP4P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer H J Manners
- Jockey Mr D Bass
chased leader until ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form P0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey J Flavin
prominent, not fluent 2 out, weakening in 5th when hit last
- Form P870-P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer S Wynne
- Jockey Mr R P Flint
in rear, struggling approaching 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 820430
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey C J Davies
held up in rear, headway after 6th, not fluent 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 57/P8-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer H J Manners
- Jockey Miss E E Macmahon
tracked leaders, saddled slipped after 2nd, pulled up after 3rd
- Form P54
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Mrs A Duffield
- Jockey F Davis
held up mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headway under pressure before 3 out, hung right after last, never pace to trouble leaders
In depth
Verdict
Three Ships may be able to give weight away all round and record his third success of the season. Dangers include Santera and Thistle. The selection won twice in this grade before Christmas prior to being stepped up in class; he didn't fare too badly on either occasion but had his limitations exposed and this represents a better opportunity. Santera ran well enough in a Catterick seller last time on just her third start over hurdles to suggest that she can be a factor whilst Thistle makes some each-way appeal in this company on the pick of his form. Support for Turkish Sultan would be of interest given his trainer's record at the track and it could be that this better ground and drop in grade will do the trick. Ratings also give Orlyheart leading claims at the weights but he has yet to reproduce his French form in six starts here and remains best watched until showing a little more. Three Ships is solid and preferred.
Formwatch
Three Ships 6-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, chased leader 3 out, led after, headed 2 out, no extra, 5th of 16, 9l behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Orlyheart (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake and reminder 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Farmer's Lad (11-12) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Desert Lover (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, beaten when edged left 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 7l behind Bahamian Bay (8-11) at W'hampton 7f Stks (41-45) (7) pol (Flat).
Pre Eminance (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) pulled up at the 11th in race won by Kappillan (12-5) at Hornby Castle 3m ptp gd in Apr '06, 10 ran.
Thistle 12-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, 20l behind Jigsaw Dancer (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Tiffin Deano (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Manhattan Boy (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) sft, 6 ran.
Turkish Sultan (IRE) 150-1 (11-5) Always behind, 15th of 17, well behind Numide (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Vienna Prince (USA) 50-1 (11-12) In touch, weakened 6th, behind when mistake next and pulled up 4 out in race won by Nick's Choice (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft, 16 ran.
L'Oiseau de Feu (USA) 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 13th of 17, 39l behind If Only I Knew (9-13) at Leicester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan.
Lyrical Girl (USA) 66-1 (10-5) Always behind, 8th of 12, 33l behind Shaman (10-12) at Plumpton 2m clm hdl (5) gf in May '06.
Santera (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Kingsbury (10-9) at Catterick 2m sll hdl (5) gf.