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15:25 Ludlow

Monday 6 January 2025

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:5015:2515:55

Luke Watson Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 5f 55y | 16 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Dublin To Milan³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 95

14/1

Made the frame all 3 starts in points. Comfortably held in 2m novice hurdles but potential improver now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 4/4-U770

Babatunde¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 95

14/1

Purchased for £50,000 after finishing third in an Irish point last spring. Only minor promise over hurdles in recent months but handicaps may see him in a better light.

Form: 3-464

Call Your Bluff^t1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gillard| T: T Ellis| OR: 93

25/1

Best effort over hurdles when third over 2m at Kempton in November. Steps up in trip for handicap debut with a first-time tongue tie also added.

Form: 730

Les's Jersey Royal²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 92

14/1

Some promise on 20.5f Leicester hurdle debut in November. Well held in 2 outings over 2m but should appreciate the step back up in trip now handicapping. It'll be interesting to see what the betting makes of him.

Form: 5-509

Mac's Xpress^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: C Ellam| OR: 90

50/1

Remains a long-standing maiden and has offered little in 3 starts since joining this yard.

Form: 475986

Brockarno¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: B Clarke| OR: 88

25/1

Third on the second of his 3 qualifying runs over hurdles but made an inauspicious start to his handicap career at Uttoxeter just before Christmas.

Form: 6/0-6377

Tom Taggle⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 87

25/1

Poor form in a bumper and 3 hurdles but could fare better in handicaps. One to note in the betting.

Form: 0-064

Churchman²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 86

10/1

Went close in 2m course handicap last February. Should stay this far but off since a below-form fifth over 2½m at Bangor in May.

Form: 8424-35

Bruce Gobbler³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Godfrey| T: K Woollacott| OR: 85

20/1

Little form of worth for the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White stable last season, including well held on handicap debut in February. Has won a point since but well-held fourth in this sphere last month ahead of this return to hurdles.

Form: 0F-P314

Olivia Kate^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 84| BF| CD

12/1

Advanced her form when easily getting off the mark in 10-runner C&D handicap (soft) in November but not in anything like the same form when seventh at Uttoxeter since. A return to Ludlow needs to help spark a revival.

Form: 008517

De Vega's Warrior²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 84

7/1

A frustrating maiden handicapper on Flat. Best run over hurdles when third of 11 on 20.5f Southwell handicap debut last month and the yard has hit form in recent days.

Form: 0533

Seahouses³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: F Brennan| OR: 81

50/1

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat for Ralph Beckett but only poor form over hurdles, including pulled up in both handicaps. Can only be watched.

Form: 558-PP

Prairie Queen^t1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 77

100/1

Has looked limited in bumpers and over hurdles, including pulled up on handicap debut last month. A first-time tongue tie needs to spark improvement.

Form: 70P7-9P

Sullivan Bay^b²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: J & S Best| OR: 77| BF

5/4

Showed next to nothing for Henrietta Knight but back to winning ways on first start for this yard on AW Flat at Chelmsford (2m) in October. Placed on all 3 outings since, including a close second in a 20.5f handicap hurdle at Plumpton. Big player under Sean Bowen.

Form: 7-0P5P2

Von Hallers⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K C Bailey| OR: 76

8/1

First form when fifth of 9 in 2½m Hereford handicap hurdle in October. An unexposed profile provides hope that she can build on that.

Form: UPP6-P5

Charming Getaway⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 76

14/1

Poor form. Entitled to strip fitter for November's run at Southwell but others are more persuasive.

Form: 9986/45

Forecasts

Sullivan Bay (5/4), De Vega's Warrior (7/1), Von Hallers (8/1), Churchman (10/1), Olivia Kate (12/1), Charming Getaway (14/1), Les's Jersey Royal (14/1), Babatunde (14/1), Dublin To Milan (14/1), Bruce Gobbler (20/1), Tom Taggle (25/1), Brockarno (25/1), Call Your Bluff (25/1), Mac's Xpress (50/1), Seahouses (50/1), Prairie Queen (100/1)

SULLIVAN BAY has had a good spell since joining Jim & Suzi Best and is the most solid option in a race featuring a few who haven't shown much so far but could take a step forward in handicaps. The good recent form of the Henrietta Knight stable earns De Vega's Warrior a place on the shortlist, along with handicap newcomers Babatunde and Les's Jersey Royal.