January 06 / 13.15 Ludlow

13.15

Good To Soft

Simply Delicious Cakes Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Simply Delicious Cakes Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: PP4-46

Last run: 192 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Hurdles winner who has form figures of 446 (no progress) since switched to chasing; sold out of Gary Hanmer's yard for £4,000 since last run; chance partly depends on how well he responds to first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

13:55 Plumpton

Stony Man

11st 5lb

J: Sean Clarke

T: Robbie Llewellyn

held up in rear, outpaced and detached 5th, struggling 7th, pulled up before 2 out

4/1

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

13:55 Plumpton

Stony Man

11st 5lb

J: Sean Clarke

T: Robbie Llewellyn

held up in rear, outpaced and detached 5th, struggling 7th

4/1

6th

4

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:47 Chepstow

Stony Man

11st 11lb

J: Sean Clarke

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Maiden hurdle winner; has failed to go on from a respectable first run over fences and left former yard for £4,000 before finishing tailed off on stable debut at Market Rasen two months ago; the tongue-tie tried there is absent this time with cheekpieces retained.

16/1

Form: P-1744 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Respectable fourth at Hereford (good to soft) the last twice; successful off just 1lb lower over C&D (good; chase debut) in October on sole Ludlow start and looks interesting with the return to this venue a positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

Form: 331234

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly on good/good to soft; dual hurdles winner who has form at up to 2m4f; ran respectably behind Dunstall Rambler at Wincanton (chase debut) most recently, taking handicap record to 41331234; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:50 Ludlow

Garitsa Bay

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Won at Worcester (2m, good) last June and continued in good form in the autumn; made early mistakes when 11l fourth on chase debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in December; off since but ran well after a 107-day break last September and he could be in the mix.

7/1

5

11th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:50 Ludlow

Garitsa Bay

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Won at Worcester (2m, good) last June and continued in good form in the autumn; made early mistakes when 11l fourth on chase debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in December; off since but ran well after a 107-day break last September and he could be in the mix.

7/1

Form: -7U351

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Not the best of jumpers but took advantage of a reduced mark at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) most recently, opening his account; back up 5lb and in trip, with a higher number of fences to negotiate; one to take on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Dunstall Rambler

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Tom George

Weakened to be beaten 22l last time at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) and all his three wins have been at about 2m; wouldn't be the obvious answer no matter how well the new headgear works.

25/1

4th

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:02 Southwell

Dunstall Rambler

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Tom George

Won for the third time over fences at Worcester in October (2m, good; by 18l); has a chance on that run but best form has been at shorter (jumped poorly when well beaten on last completed run at 2m4f); acts on good to soft but he's not a real mudlark.

7/1

1

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:57 Worcester

Dunstall Rambler

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Consistent sort who won twice over fences last term; stable's first runner over fences this season and may have more to give.

10/1

Form: /F2P-0

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Chase debutant who has a doubt over current form, having been well held (folded tamely) in sole run this term; placed a few times otherwise over hurdles and has an each-way shout granted a return to that level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

12th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

12:58 Huntingdon

Aldsworth

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Best granted a sharp, flat right-handed track, but present attainment level uncertain having overraced in front on November's seasonal return here (debuted blinkers are retained); from the family of Hand Inn Hand and Tom Brodie, so may yet take to his new vocation of chasing.

10/1

Form: 84894-

Last run: 312 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Absent since his modest fourth in similar event here (3m, soft; chase debut) last February, taking overall record to 0-9; yet to start shorter than 25-1 under rules and the betting may again be useful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

Yes And Yes

11st 8lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Appreciated the step up in trip when landing his second race over fences at Stratford (3m3f, good) last month; up 5lb and needs to back that up over this slightly shorter distance.

7/2

1st

7

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Yes And Yes

10st 8lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Sole success over fences came at Chepstow in March last year off 2lb higher; soundly beaten since and steps up to beyond 3m for the first time; down to a career-low mark and needs this extra test of stamina to bring out improvement.

5/1

Form: P63O12 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Improved form the last twice, winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft; beat two subsequent scorers) then second at Taunton (2m2f, good) behind a well-treated and blossoming mare; respected off unaltered mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

My Mate Polly

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

took keen hold, prominent, lost ground before 4th, midfield 11th

12/1

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

My Mate Polly

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

took keen hold, prominent, lost ground before 4th, midfield 11th

12/1

Form: 6685/P C

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Far from solid on chase efforts but has become well handicapped on hurdles form, notably a Ludlow win, and perhaps needed latest run (when back from long layoff); tongue-tie added; market support should be noted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Rock On Rita

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Turned things around when winning a small-field chase at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) in March but back in modest mode at Bangor; has become a hard mare to predict.

5/1

Abandoned

Form: 55-F32

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
In-form maiden hurdler who ran respectably at Leicester (third over 1m7f) and Uttoxeter (second over 2m) on heavy/soft last month; place possibilities, provided he's as effective over fences and back up in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 136y

Class 5

14:50 Chepstow

Night Jet

10st 11lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Won chase debut in February 2025 and back to form with blinkers enlisted when second on last two outings, but all three of those runs were over 2m and there is plenty to prove judged on his attempts at 2m4f/3m; cheekpieces return and their previous usage includes that one win.

9/1

2nd

5

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:30 Leicester

Night Jet

10st 12lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Took a step forward in a change of headgear when second of eight in handicap over C&D 22 day ago, hindered by a blunder two out; this C&D winner is a likely player if blinkers have the same effect a second time.

9/2

2nd

8

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Night Jet

10st 12lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Opened his account when winning on chase debut over C&D (soft) last February but he's not come close to that form in four subsequent runs; overall record is now 1-21 and he needs new headgear to give him a boost.

7/1

Verdict

Preference is for MY MATE POLLY, who has solid recent form and may still have more to offer at this level over fences. Iron d’Ex, who looks interesting back at Ludlow, is second choice ahead of Night Jet and Garitsa Bay. There are reasons to take on last-time scorer Dunstall Rambler.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

My Mate Polly

WEST COUNTRY:

Dunstall Rambler

POSTDATA:

Iron d'Ex

The Star:

Night Jet

RP RATINGS:

My Mate Polly

The Guardian:

My Mate Polly

D Express:

My Mate Polly

The Sun:

My Mate Polly

The Times:

Dunstall Rambler

Telegraph:

Dunstall Rambler

Daily Record:

Dunstall Rambler

Daily Mail:

Iron d'Ex

Daily Mirror:

Iron d'Ex