tracked leader, blundered 1st, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled before next
led, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and headed last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, joined leader 2 out, led next, readily
held up in rear, headway 8th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next
held up behind, headway after 4 out, chased leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, reminders after 8th, weakened approaching next
prominent, hit 5th, reminders after 4 out, weakened after next
It could be a good start to the day for favourite backers at Ludlow with KENNEL HILL set to take the world of beating; Penylan Star and Acrai Rua may improve past Sandynow to fight it out for minor honours. It may be significant that AP takes the ride aboard Keith Goldsworthy's charge, whose rating of 142 doesn't quite tell the full tale. He's shown plenty of smart form over timber and there's no question he's got the ability to win a race like this if putting it all together, but he was in the process of giving The Minack a real race when almost stopping approaching the last at Kempton before refusing to race at Warwick. However, last time out he ran an absolute blinder when placing in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and anything close to that would make this merely a steering job for the champion, although should the animal show signs of reluctance then who better than McCoy to keep him straight. Penylan Star fell last time when challenging in a race won by a decent sort, so with the yard firing and the horse having been given time to recover there's every chance he can improve once more to take a hand in the finish. He's just preferred to former point-to-pointer Acrai Rua who should appreciate this this ground but needs to improve to trouble the principles and his future lies over fences. Tannenberg has steadily improved with racing but that seemed to coincide with him racing on better ground last time and he still has to prove he copes with this ground so of more interest is Sandynow whose best efforts have come with cut in the ground. He's got to give a penalty away though which makes life tough and it wouldn't be a total surprise were the Twiston-Davies newcomer Our Columbus to improve past him should the market make the right noises. Without that guide we'll stick with Kennel Hill who should finally get off the mark over hurdles in what doesn't look that strong a contest.
Sandynow (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Led until 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 14, 29l behind Peveril (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Feb.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Led until after 1st, prominent, mistake 5th, outpaced approaching 3 out, switched left after 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd close home, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Lord Tomnoddy (11-0) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) In rear, ridden 3 out, well behind 2 out, headway approaching last, soon hung left, soon hung badly right and went 3rd, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 19, 14l behind Berties Dream (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Our Columbus (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Twrds rr of mid div, 10th & pushed at 6th, 9th 5out, bhnd when fell 3out, in a race won by Passing Through (12-0) at Avaune 3m ire ptp in Dec, 17 ran.
Penylan Star (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in rear, mistakes, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders when fell 2 out, in a race won by Wayward Prince (11-0) at Doncaster 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Septos 150-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off, 7th of 15, well behind Lord Tomnoddy (11-0) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Tannenberg (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Barafundle (11-9) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
