Racecards
14:00 Ludlow
Ludlow Point To Point - Bitterley 11th April Novices' Claiming Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 351P1P
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
led until 1st, pressed leader until led narrowly 4th, headed 3 out, no extra and eased flat
- Form R
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer Mrs M Hobbs
- Jockey Mr J Mahot
prominent, jumped right 1st, fell next
- Form 979-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 90
pulled hard in rear, lost touch after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up after
Best Yarn
39- Form 0-0P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
led 1st until 4th, close 2nd until weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 5P00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey David England
not fluent towards rear, pushed along after 4th, weakened after next
- Form F-51703
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey A P McCoy
prominent, went 2nd briefly approaching 3 out, soon beaten, went modest 3rd flat
- Form 855
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey Mr T O'Connor
mid-division, mistake 6th, headway soon after, beaten when went modest 3rd 3 out until flat
- Form 647
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P W Hiatt
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
mid-division, not fluent and hampered 2nd, headway after 6th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, hit 3 out
Court Drama
13- Form 00-60
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey S P Jones
slowly away, always behind, pulled up before 3 out
Stravita
6- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey Peter Toole
held up towards rear, not fluent and hampered 2nd, headway 6th, beaten approaching 3 out, mistake last
In depth
Verdict
BLACKTOFT is just about the pick at the weights and may be able to get the better of Vincenzio and Bundle Up. The selection comes with risks attached as he broke a blood vessel when last in action at Fontwell but he had shown a fair level of form prior to that and should be suited by this track and the conditions providing that the ground doesn't become testing. Charlie Egerton and Tony McCoy are a fearsome combination but the majority of their successes have come with chasers and Vincenzio failed to trouble the winner when dropped to this grade last time and has a little to find at these weights. Bundle Up receives plenty of weight from the market principals and her yard has been operating with a decent strike rate over the last couple of months. This is her grade and her latest run can be excused on account of the ground so it would be no surprise to see her run a big race. Stravita needs a market check with a leading conditional booked for her debut over hurdles but preference is for Blacktoft.
Formwatch
Blacktoft (USA) 15-2 (11-12) Led, hit 4th, headed approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Consulate (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Sergeant Sharpe 6-1 (11-7) Ref 1, in a race won by Cocoa Nut Spice (11-7) at Garnons 2m 4f ptp gs, 10 ran.
The Wily Woodcock 66-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden 6th, soon struggling, 9th of 11, 47l behind First Avenue (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar '09.
Best Yarn 100-1 (11-3) Pulled hard, held up, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Fahrisee (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Goat Castle (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 6th, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Great Reason (11-2) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Vincenzio (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Santera (10-6) at Doncaster 2m clm hdl (4) gd.
Navajo Nation (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 23l behind Singapore Reef (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Royal Rainbow 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 11, 27l behind Sadler's Star (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (4) gf.
Court Drama 33-1 (10-11) Took keen hold in rear, never near leaders, 12th of 16, 24l behind Reinriver (10-3) at Wincanton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd.
Bundle Up 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened on long run between last 2, pulled up before last, in a race won by Oscar Gogo (11-12) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Stravita 11-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 19l behind Me Fein (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (7) pol (flat).