Ludlow Point To Point 1st April Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 6m 13.5s

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Selected odds by:

Forgetthesmalltalk²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

12/1

Maiden point winner on heavy ground before running only modestly in a bumper at Warwick (2m, soft). More will be needed here on his hurdles debut.

Form: P-1

One More Hero^t1³⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

5/1

£100,000 purchase after winning a maiden point last April. Wears a tongue strap on hurdles debut for a top trainer currently in good form, and has all the hallmarks of a potential winner first time out.

Form: P-1

Sidsteel³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

200/1

Shown next to nothing during five starts in bumpers and in novice hurdles so far. No obvious reason why today should be any different.

Form: 000054-

Step Back²⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: M Bradstock

9/1

Showed good form in a series of Irish points, placing all but once. Has a sizable absence to overcome but has definite potential on his hurdles debut.

Form: 121-119

The Happy Chappy^t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: Mrs S J Humphrey

40/1

Won two points in good style before disappointing on debut under rules at Hereford last time. Will have to bounce back from that but certainly not without a chance.

Form: 1-133P

Westend Story⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/11

Has disappointed twice since finishing fifth to Ballyandy in the Champion Bumper last year. The further step up in trip could help, as would any rain, as all his best form is on soft or heavy ground.

Form: FF/115-

Woodfort¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126

11/4

Has improved with every run over hurdles so far and could continue that progress today if coming on for a recent close second at Doncaster over slightly shorter.

Form: 32U334-

Day In Paradise²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: R Stephens

66/1

Half-sister to the fairly useful hurdler/chaser Brown Teddy, but her pedigree contains little to get excited about other than that, especially in terms of staying this trip. Best watched on debut.

Form: F

Forecasts

Westend Story (10/11), Woodfort (11/4), One More Hero (5/1), Step Back (9/1), Forgetthesmalltalk (12/1), The Happy Chappy (40/1), Day In Paradise (66/1), Sidsteel (200/1)

There are a few former pointers making their debuts or second appearances under rules today, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see something spring a surprise. However, the tentative choice is ONE MORE HERO. A £100,000 purchase for some top connections, he won his second point in good style, and should be the one to beat if managing to overcome a break of coming up for a year. The Happy Chappy is another one who was promising in points, and will be a player if bouncing back from his disappointing defeat on his debut under rules at Hereford, while Champion Bumper fifth Westend Story is also interesting upped in trip. 1. One More Hero 2. The Happy Chappy 3. Westend Story