17:23 Ludlow

Thursday 27 February 2025

All14:3515:1015:4516:2016:5317:23

Good Life Plus Free Membership Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:24 | Winning time: 3m 58.87s

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Selected odds by:

Snapius^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Bromley| T: James Owen| OR: 105| D

8/1

Clicked for James Owen with a 2m Lingfield handicap hurdle success in December. Only a respectable effort when 9 lengths second of 7 at Sandown (1m, soft) in a first-time visor (retained) 14 days ago but dangerous if back to the Lingfield form.

Form: 962182

Wise Guy³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 102| DWS

9/4

Improver in handicaps over hurdles last season, winning slow-ground contests at Lingfield and Carlisle. That progress hasn't continued this time around but he probably went off too hard on his chase debut last time and he's edged back to a good mark if a recent wind operation has done the trick.

Form: 13-8406

Hawk Stone^p1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 101| D

13/2

In good form last spring, runner-up twice before getting off the mark at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) under Bradley Harris in April. Below par in 2 starts this winter, although his stamina seemed stretched by 21f at Kempton last time. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 9221-89

Boskill Borden^p1¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Shane Fenelon| T: D A Rees| OR: 100| D

50/1

Just the one win from 11 starts over hurdles when trained in Ireland. Below par on last run there at the end of the summer and best watched here unless the betting speaks in his favour. First-time cheekpieces replace blinkers.

Form: 954360

Diskatek³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Shane Quinlan| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 100

20/1

Second in Southwell novice hurdle on Rules debut last February but has gone the wrong way in 3 outings since. Needs to get his career back on track now handicapping for the first time.

Form: 25-06

Zucayan^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Slatter| T: F O'Brien| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Dual Ludlow winner. Made a creditable return from 7 months off when third of 10 at Taunton (19f, soft) 23 days ago. Just as effective over this shorter trip. Considered.

Form: 174-F63

Greatness Awaits^b³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁸⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 99

9/2

Scored at Newton Abbot for Ben Pauling last summer and followed that with a string of good efforts in defeat. Not at his best since joining present yard but latest 10 lengths third at Uttoxeter in a visor (blinkered now) was a bit better and eased another 2 lb since.

Form: 223553

Port Or Starboard^p⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ellis Collier⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 98

7/1

Off the mark over hurdles at Exeter in March 2023 and has run with credit in defeat on all 8 outings (1 Flat) since, finishing second of 11 in 2m Uttoxeter handicap (heavy) on latest outing 8 weeks ago. Likely to be thereabouts again.

Form: 3/333-42

Little Pi²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Toby Wynne| T: S Allwood| OR: 91| CD

18/1

Won a pair of handicaps for Matt Sheppard last winter, including over C&D. Disappointed on his final 2 starts last season but shaped better than sixth of 8 suggests on last month's Catterick reappearance for new yard, in fourth when blundering the last. Entitled to come on for that run.

Form: 4110P-6

Forecasts

Wise Guy (9/4), Greatness Awaits (9/2), Zucayan (9/2), Hawk Stone (13/2), Port Or Starboard (7/1), Snapius (8/1), Little Pi (18/1), Diskatek (20/1), Boskill Borden (50/1)

The suggestion is WISE GUY, who is well handicapped if a recent breathing operation has had a positive effect, particularly if Callum Pritchard's 3 lb claim is taken into account. Zucayan, a dual C&D winner, the reliable Port Or Starboard and James Owen's Snapius may provide the main opposition.