Paul Ferguson has two selections from Ludlow for us on Wednesday; New Year’s Eve in the 2.40 and Glorious Twelfth at 3.15. Compare odds and bet.
There is some pretty interesting stuff on offer on Wednesday, especially if Carlisle passes an 8am inspection and joins the decent card down at Ludlow.
Should the Cumbria track get the go-ahead the best horse on show comes in the opener in the shape of smart novice hurdler Eduard who will be very short, but should have little trouble taking this before being aimed at either Cheltenham or Aintree, while the Pertemps Qualifier is the best race on the card.
Shutthefrontdoor and Green Flag are a couple of progressive staying novices who look on fair marks. The former should improve for the step up in trip, while the latter relishes testing ground and was being aimed at the River Don before that meeting was abandoned. Lucinda Russell’s six-year-old should be going close here off 130 if that was a realistic target.
Down in Shropshire, the mares handicap hurdle can go the way Glorious Twelfth (3:15) who looks reasonably treated on an opening mark of 120.
Nicky Henderson’s unexposed six-year-old progressed in bumpers last term and got off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles at Huntingdon last month, when selected in this column.
By Old Vic out of the classy race mare Bilboa, Andrew Tinkler’s mount is bred to be pretty smart and she can take this before presumably being aimed at the mares final at Newbury in March. The selection was trading at 15/8 with Ladbrokes this morning.
Earlier on the card Champion Bumper runner-up New Year’s Eve (2:40) should take the 2m maiden hurdle for John Ferguson and Denis O’Regan.
A winner at this track on his racecourse debut last January, the son of Motivator made a pleasing debut over hurdles at Kempton on Boxing Day, when eventually coming home 7 lengths off the smart River Maigue.
Third home Kings Lad ran well behind Mr Watson at Cheltenham on Trials Day, while the fourth Rysbrack won a jumpers bumper at Wolverhampton so the form is strong. The tight track will suit and, while he really wants good ground, conditions should be less demanding this afternoon, so there ought to be no excuses.
Paul Nicholls’ French recruit Ptit Zig is the unknown quantity in the line-up, but he doesn’t hold any Cheltenham Festival entries, so it is unlikely he has been burning up the Ditcheat gallops. Given his mark, the Fred Winter will probably be his race if he does anything here.
Later on the card, be sure to pay close attention to the concluding 2m5f maiden hurdle, with several interesting sorts on show. It could be a race that works out, with Copper Birch having chased home At Fishers Cross on debut, Paul Nicholls saddling Cheltenham hopeful Mac’s Return (entered in both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett), while Nicky Henderson sends out One Conemara who carries the silks of Captain Conan.
Wednesday’s selections:
2:40 Ludlow: New Year’s Eve 1/3 Skybet
3:15 Ludlow: Glorious Twelfth (15/8 Ladbrokes )
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Last Year’s Book Results – Leading Prospects:
- SPRINTER SACRE – Unbeaten – winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- SIMONSIG – Winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- CINDERS AND ASHES – 10/1 winner of Supreme Novices Hurdle
- BOBS WORTH – 9/2 winner of the RSA Chase
- MENORAH & SILVINIACO CONTI – Both Aintree Winners
- SIR DES CHAMPS – Unbeaten inc 3/1 Jewson Cheltenham Winner
- FINGAL BAY – Won 4 times inc Challow Hurdle
- RAYA STAR – 10/3 winner at Wetherby, 12/1 Ladbroke Hurdle winner, 15/2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner
- AMBION WOOD – 14/1 EBF Final Sandown winner
- CHAMPION COURT – 6/1 G2 Dipper Novices Chase winner
- PALACE JESTER – 14/1 winner at FFos Las
- SWINCOMBE FLAME – Hat-trick winner inc Lanzarote Hurdle at 9/2
- TEAFOR THREE – 5/1 NH Cheltenham Chase winner (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
