16:45 Ludlow

Thursday 22 March 2018

All14:3015:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:50

Abberley Hall Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 12.1s

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Selected odds by:

Grandioso^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 114| C

14/1

Former Grade 2 chase winner who won three of these in 2016. Was competitive on his first start last season, but then lost his way. Has made the frame over 2m7f, but this probably stretches his stamina fully and others are preferred.

Form: 11243-P

Opening Batsman^b,t⁵²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr M Legg| T: H Fry| OR: 132| BF| CD

9/4

Won a handicap chase over C&D (good to soft) last season and followed up at Fontwell (2m5f, good) from a mark of 135. Comfortably held in both hunter chases in January, but if he can get back to last year's form he would have strong claims.

Form: 5011-44

Such A Legend⁸¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: Tracey Bailey| OR: 126WS

9/1

Unfortunately named with a 1-12 record over fences, that win being on fast ground at Chepstow (2m3½f) in April from a mark of 123. Pulled up twice since and had wind surgery in-between. Has stamina to prove on this ground but worth a market check.

Form: 291-2PP

Mr Mercurial^t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr H Crow⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Crow| OR: 118| CD

3/1

Won a similar race over C&D (soft) 13-months ago and went on to run well in the Aintree Foxhunters'. Should strip fitter for a reasonable return between the flags last month and this local trainer should have him spot on for this. Claims.

Form: 418U-P3

Tugboat³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: G Slade-Jones| OR: 93| CD

14/1

Goes well here and won over C&D (soft) in 2015 and 2m4f (good) a year later. However, has not been able to add to the latter and lost his way last year. Signs of revival in two starts this term and has a bit to find but not ruled out of the frame.

Form: P-34734

Broadway Symphony⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Tracey Bailey| OR: 118| DWS

7/1

Sole success under rules when chasing was in a Uttoxeter novices' handicap (3m, heavy) in 2015, though has picked up a couple of point-to-point since a wind op last year. Arrives in good form and it would be no surprise to see him go close.

Form: 21P/1-P1

Crazy Jack⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr G Crow⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A R Hewitt| OR: 103| D

25/1

Has run well at this track and posted one of his better performances in a 3m hurdle (heavy) here in 2016. Powers on the wane in more recent times and reappearance between the flags not hugely encouraging, but could do better back here.

Form: 6344-37

Drive The Bus⁵⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss L Brooke⁽³⁾| T: Mrs B Thomas| OR: 92

100/1

Won 1-8 over fences when trained in Ireland, that being over 2m4f (yld) at Wexford in 2015. Finished runner-up over there on soft when hurdling, but not seen since August 2016 and looks best watched after such a lengthy absence.

Form: 992359-

Real Milan^b²⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J H Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick J Jones| OR: 110| D

9/2

Has put in a couple of decent efforts in this sphere already this year, being a 6L runner-up to Virak over C&D (good to soft) in January and matching that at Fontwell last time behind Unioniste. Needs a bit more to win, but has frame claims.

Form: 2-332U2

Vouvray³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J Pritchard Webb⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Davies| D

100/1

Won a maiden Irish point-to-point on debut in 2016, but form has tailed off since. Pulled up twice between the flags in January and then unseated in a Ffos Las hunter chase last time and hard to make a case for him.

Form: 64-6PPU

Forecasts

Opening Batsman (9/4), Mr Mercurial (3/1), Real Milan (9/2), Broadway Symphony (7/1), Such A Legend (9/1), Tugboat (14/1), Grandioso (14/1), Crazy Jack (25/1), Drive The Bus (100/1), Vouvray (100/1)

At a track where her trainer's hunters do well. MR MERCURIAL looks a solid option after a promising reappearance in a point-to-point last time. Although not the best on official ratings, he has proved his well being recently and also has winning form here on soft ground, so there is a fair bit going for him. Broadway Symphony looks the pick of Tracey Bailey's pair and could emerge as a contender, while Opening Batsman is not ruled out and both Real Milan and Grandioso could finish among the prize money if running to the best of their current abilities.