Vobe Electrics Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 6m 44.3s

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Selected odds by:

Dragon D'Estruval^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

3/1

Returned to fences to make the frame in the 3m Perth Gold Cup (good to soft) in June and hasn't seen a great deal of competitive action since; sports first-time cheekpieces; is potentially a cut above this level of opposition, major chance.

Form: 730-35V

Rolling Dylan^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

3/1

Well beaten when fifth in the Grade 3 Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4½f, good) in the spring; has been campaigned mainly over the Cross Country fences at Cheltenham since; stablemate of Diplomate Sivola.

Form: 525-P47

Diplomate Sivola²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

4/1

Finished four places (14L) behind Dragon D'Estruval at Ascot on penultimate start (feasibly needed run); sitting duck for Quarenta (stronger finishing kick) in a three-runner affair at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) subsequently; stablemate of Rolling Dylan.

Form: 121P-92

Another Stowaway^p1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 130

8/1

3lb higher than when beating Forth Bridge by 10L at Leicester (2m6½f, good to firm) almost exactly a year ago; moderate since, including when a detached last of nine over C&D (soft) three weeks ago; needs more with cheekpieces now applied.

Form: P136-79

Aubusson¹⁵⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 129| C

10/1

Rolled back the years when making all and jumping well to score by 1L over C&D (good) in April; well below that level of form when last in competitive action at Bangor in August (pulled up); runner-up on only other Ludlow start (January 2018).

Form: P91-25P

Marble Moon³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| C| D

4/1

Won for the second time at this track (7-24 career) when justifying favouritism over C&D (good) in early October - beat Beau Du Brizais by 1½L; just 2lb higher (in a stronger race); is likely to force the pace with Abusson; can't be dismissed.

Form: 241139

Irish Octave^p⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 113

25/1

Boasts a solid record over fences (7-19) although this race represents a marked step up in grade (1lb 'wrong); is regularly produced from off the pace so could pick up the pieces if the leaders go overly quick; most effective on good/good to soft.

Form: 7413-15

Forecasts

Dragon D'Estruval (3/1), Rolling Dylan (3/1), Diplomate Sivola (4/1), Marble Moon (4/1), Another Stowaway (8/1), Aubusson (10/1), Irish Octave (25/1)

Abusson and Marble Moon have the distinct advantage of 'track-craft' as previous Ludlow winners, although with both horses known for dictating matters from the front-end that could cause some difficulties come the finish. Philip Hobbs is doubly represented with Rolling Dylan and Diplomate Sivola with the former reverting to more conventional obstacles having competed over the Cross Country fences at Cheltenham. However, there's more than a fair chance that the Nicky Henderson-trained DRAGON D'ESTRUVAL is a cut above this level of opponent and as a result he's fancied to strike in first-time cheekpieces.