As posted yesterday the first meeting of the season is on at Ludlow tomorrow.
http://www.ludlowracecourse.co.uk/
The going is Gd/Fm with some firm places as there has been very little rain recently. The first race is a seller but has a couple of interesting runners; Fools Wildcat is over from the in form Gorden Elliott stable in Ireland is 119 rated and has Tony McCoy up, it is bound to be a popular choice. Evan Williams' Agente Romano was a decent animal about 18 months ago but has lost his way this year. The Twiston-Davies horse Bacculaureate won a similar event earlier in the year and has the ability to follow up as has the McCain trained front runner Jim Tango.
No bet advised here
The second race is a mares novice hurdle and again has a few in with a chance; American Ladie left Alan King's stable for that of Jamie Snowden last year and has run consistantly this season. Evan Williams' Fine Lace is another consistent performer and will be sure to be ready to do herself justice here. Local trainer Henry Daly sends At Present the couple of miles from Downton Hall but she has not shown a lot to date and is not that well in at the weights. If this were a handicap American Ladie would be carrying 10lbs more than Fine Lace and is the tentative suggestion.
The third event is a highly competative 11 runner 3 mile handicap chase. Bold Perk enjoyed a highly successful spell in June winning 3 times in a couple of weeks, he has now changed stables and I fear may be in the grip of the handicapper for the moment. Calypso Bay is from Jonjo O Neill's stable and has the champ on board, he likes the going and was a good winner last time out at Market Rasen. He is the selection for this but to small stakes.
The 2m 5f handicap hurdle is next up and again is a tight little event, Another Kate has won two of her last three races, both at Hereford, and likes the going, as well as tight right handed tracks. Great Mates, formerly owned by Jim, "Best Mate", Lewis has been sold out of Paul Nicholls stable and gone to that of David Pipe. He has become disappointing and a watching brief is recommended at present. Malibu Sun pulled up in his last two starts but if back to form is good enough to win this. Mauretino won two races in a week back in April but they were both over 2 miles and he has been regressive on the flat. Dark Energy ran well at Huntingdon 3 days ago and may be worth taking a chance on to go one better than his second place tomorrow.
The beginners chase at 4 10 boasts the most interesting runner of the day. Gorden Elliott's Definate Allstar has the ability to win this in a canter, the trouble is that all his ability is still latent and at a probable short price may be worth opposing. The trouble is with what? Evan Williams's Wester Ross was a decent hudler but fell on his only start over fences and I am always loathe to back a novice after a fall. His stablemate Jolly Roger won a novice hurdle at Huntingdon 11 months ago and has a hurdles rating of 120 and with stable jockey Paul Molomey preferring him to Wester Ross he is the one I will side with.
The juvenile maiden hurdle should go to Spartan King if he can follow up his second to the very decent looking Hollow Tree at Bangor last week, he was not knocked about when beaten and is my NAP OF THE DAY.
The final race is a bumper and the likely favourite will be The Playful Priest, coming up from Rebecca Curtis's yard in South Wales and with the promising Aodghan Conlan up he was well backed for his debut at Hereford 6 weeks ago before disappointing, he is taken to make amends .
On the home front the Housemate returned from the fracture clinic with good news and the pinkie strapped up, it was a nasty fracture which makes her achievements at the weekend all the more meritorious. She has a very fetching plastic finger stall to protect it for the next month. It did, apparently, hurt when it was straightened but she was braver about it than I would have been. The injury happened when Sid was being clipped by the local eventing star in the barn, he shot backwards as she reached a ticklish bit and housemate wasn't quick enough, Sid was sorry and the eventer oblivious.
