Racecards
17:15 Ludlow
Ann Esp Memorial 'Newcomers' Standard Open NH Flat Race (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238

- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey David Bass
held up in touch, tracked leaders 7f out, challenged over 3f out, led 2f out, soon clear, ridden out, comfortably

- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
prominent, outpaced over 7f out, soon lost place, stayed on into modest 4th 2f out, no chance with leaders

- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Lady S Brooke
- Jockey Miss L Brooke
raced keenly, in touch on outside, led after 4f, headed halfway, in touch, outpaced 4f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off

- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
led narrowly 4f, tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out, tailed off

- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer A Phillips
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up in touch, struggling halfway, never a threat, weakened over 2f out, tailed off

- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
fractious and unseated rider paddock and again going to post, unseated rider when green and unruly leaving start

- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey T J O'Brien
prominent, led halfway, driven over 3f out, headed 2f out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd inside final furlong

- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7f out, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off

- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Jake Greenall
tracked leaders, lost place and behind halfway, headway under pressure over 4f out, ridden to chase front pair over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Nicky Henderson sent out subsequent dual hurdles winner Jack Frost to win last year's renewal on his racecourse debut and RATHER BE can follow suit. The latter is a half-brother to stablemate and Listed winner Sign Of Victory and may well be good enough. Renfrew is related to the smart winner Corrin Wood and Handpicked is a half-sister to three winners and makes more appeal than stable companion Round Robin. Teme Trixie is related to a couple of winning hurdlers and may prove best of the rest.
Formwatch
Ascotdeux Nellerie (FR) Network gelding out of Jumper Nellerie.
Battle Master Starcraft gelding out of Jig Time.
Defiant Dazzler (IRE) Kadeed gelding out of Over The Wonder.
Renfrew (IRE) Robin Des Pres gelding out of Allstar Rose.
Von Trappe (IRE) Well Made gelding out of Hawkshaws Bridge.
Rather Be (IRE) Oscar gelding out of Irish Wedding.
Round Robin (IRE) Robin Des Pres gelding out of Another Whiparound.
Teme Trixie Needwood Blade mare out of Castanet.
Handpicked King's Theatre filly out of Hand Inn Glove.