Racecards
15:10 Ludlow
Shrewsbury 'national Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft (Hurdles, soft, good to soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 71103P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
tracked leader, led 7th, soon headed, ridden and jumped right 3 out, ran on to take 2nd flat
- Form 133-5U4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Tony Evans
led and keen, weakening when not much room 7th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form P2-4333
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace
- Form 27P312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up mid-division, headway on inside 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, pulled up, dismounted
So Cloudy
41- Form 332231
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up, headway after 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out and weakened
Cheer Us On
65- Form 5-11833
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
held up and keen, ridden and some progress 4 out
- Form P73-611
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Mrs A E Brooks
- Jockey J Diment
in touch, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out and dismounted
- Form 33P-B3P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch and keen, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, ran on well
Ban Dubh
7- Form P6P360
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey L P Aspell
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace
- Form P4-905P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey M Bradburne
in touch, headway 4 out, weakening when jumping right 2 out and last
Verdict
Plenty of in-form horses here and from a shortlist of Pearly Star, So Cloudy, and Basic Fact, we will side with Pearly Star. The form of the selection's last win has been franked by the runner-up winning since and then not being disgraced in a Grade Two contest next time up. Pearly Star has an 8lb rise to contend with today, however he has been rejuvenated since leaving Alan King's stable and should go close on ground that suits. So Cloudy has claims after his comfortable success last time out when appreciating the step up in trip. With his stable in form he has major claims, along with Basic Fact who should be more at home stepped back up to this trip. He should go close despite a 4lb rise for his latest run. Artipreuill reverts to hurdles after a moderate chase debut last time out. He has claims but this could be more of a confidence booster so is opposed, whilst Cheer Us On is fairly consistent and has place claims at a price. In a competitive contest, we will side with Pearly Star to complete the hat-trick.
Formwatch
Warpath (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Led until 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Itsa Legend (10-12) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
The Hollow Bottom 4-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, outpaced after 3 out, 4th of 12, 29l behind Shrewd Investor (10-12) at Bangor 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Artipreuil (FR) 7-2 (10-8) Held up, headway 10th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened next, badly hampered last, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Lucifer Bleu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Basic Fact (IRE) 7-2fav (10-8) Held up in touch, every chance last, ran on well flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Warningcamp (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
So Cloudy 12-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, led and hit 3 out, blundered next, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Knockara Luck (11-2) by 4l, 13 ran.
Cheer Us On 5-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place halfway, headway 3 out, stayed on well from next, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Major Oak (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Pearly Star 9-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 2 out, switched approaching last, stayed on strongly under pressure, led close home, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Hereditary (11-1) by a nk, 15 ran.
River Ripples (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Zimbabwe (9-11) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Ban Dubh 40-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, hampered 3 out, never dangerous, 10th of 20, 38l behind Final Bid (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Another Burden 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Celtic Major (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan, 16 ran.