Racecards
14:45 Ludlow
Corve Selling Hurdle (Class 5)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £2,600 added
- Winner: £1,691
- 2nd: £497
- 3rd: £248
- 4th: £124
- Form P39P2U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs M Hobbs
- Jockey Peter Carberry
raced keenly, made virtually all, joined and hit 3 out, ridden and in command between last 2, hit last, kept on well and came clear flat
- Form 0/122-06
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey James Cowley
raced wide, chased leading duo, went 2nd 4th, upsides from next, hit 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden and found nil between last 2, well beaten when lost 2nd close home
Diktalina
29- Form 3-97305
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey A P McCoy
took keen hold, held up behind leaders, disputing 3rd from 6th, definite 3rd and every chance before 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, went modest 2nd close home, no chance with winner
- Form 990
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer R G Hawker
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
slow 1st, chased winner until 4th, disputing 3rd from 6th, pushed along and outpaced in 4th when hit 3 out, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
Font would win this in a canter if at his best but this is his first start over the smaller obstacles since April 2009 and recent efforts over fences have left a lot to be desired. At the likely odds, the eight-year-old may be worth taking on with DIKTALINA. Alison Thorpe's mare has hardly been in peak form herself but wasn't disgraced when fifth in a handicap at Leicester on her latest start and there's a good chance she'll get her own way out in front today. The other pair have a lot to find at the weights but Abstract Art did finish second in a seller over C&D last month before unseating his rider at the first at Taunton just under two weeks ago.
Formwatch
Abstract Art (USA) 4-1 (11-6) In lead when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Chrysander (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gd, 9 ran.
Font 7-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, weakening when blundered 5 out, 6th of 7, well behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jan.
Diktalina 18-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 15, 30l behind Najca De Thaix (11-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Steely Bird 150-1 (10-9) Mid-division, dropped to rear and struggling after 4th, tailed off, 11th of 13, 42l behind Chrysander (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gs in Jan.