She's Our Native can make her class tell over Golden Duck, Flinders Bay, Salinas and Highland Games. Evan Williams is double-handed with both the first and last named, but preference is much for She's Our Native who has been a credit to connections over the years. She has been successful five times at Ludlow, including over fences off a mark of 94 in November. Tailed off over hurdles in the Lanzarote at Kempton just five days ago, she will be much more at home back over fences in this small field, and with Jamie Tudor able to take 7lb off her back today, she can bounce back. Golden Duck has potential, but the fact is that he is still a novice and is not trusted over today's trip yet, although the stable won this last year with Bob The Builder. Flinders Bay has yet to reveal what he can do, while the selection's stablemate Highland Games needs to improve to figure in the finish. All in all, She's Our Native has the best claims.
She's Our Native (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Behind, hampered 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 17, well behind Verasi (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Salinas (GER) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Elgar (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Jack's Lad (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Held up, mistake 3rd, no chance from 7th, tailed off when blundered last, 4th of 7, well behind Trouble At Bay (11-3) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Golden Duck (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, bumped 10th, every chance when hampered last, not recover, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ice Bucket (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Allaboveboard (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Prominent early, held up in touch, blundered 12th, weakening and blundered 13th, 9th of 13, 42l behind Art Virginia (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Dec.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 40l behind Tidal Bay (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Highland Games (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, led after 3 out, ridden and stayed on well from next, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy beating Lago (10-7) by 8l, 10 ran.
