October 20 / 16.05 Ludlow

16.05

Good To Firm

HR Smith Group Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7406.56
  • 1m 7f 212y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
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HR Smith Group Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20

Form: 344-31 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Unable to defy this high a mark over hurdles but promises to make a better chaser given how he went about his business at Hexham (1m7f, good to soft); only beat two rivals but he jumped well and did it easily; 5lb higher now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:30 Market Rasen

Minella Plus

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

disputed lead, led after 1st

8/1

5th

6

11th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:10 Ludlow

Minella Plus

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders

10/1

6th

2

6th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:18 Hexham

Minella Plus

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Best effort for some time when third at Bangor last month and may be able to build on that; five career wins have come in fields of six or fewer but too well handicapped now to be dismissed.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 1P3112 D BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Six wins since April, four over fences (2m-2m5f) and three of those handicaps; has continued the good work over hurdles, last time finishing a clear second when doubly penalised; this mark asks a question of him but plenty to like otherwise on this return to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 3

14:15 Catterick

Mortlach

11st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Strike-rate of 5-12 over fences and was highly tried before making the most of a good opportunity at Newbury (2m handicap on good to firm); this looks another good piece of placing even with his penalties.

11/10

1st

1

19th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

14:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, not fluent 1st, briefly led before 4th, pushed along approaching last, led narrowly after 9th, ridden run-in, went clear final 110yds, kept on well

6/4

5

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

15:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Tough and consistent novice chaser; not disgraced behind a very useful rival in match race at Plumpton (2m3f) most recently, though proved no match for the winner; has bits of Grade 2 form but this is a harder task; bottom of this field on ratings.

50/1

100/1

Form: P-P35P

Last run: 120 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden and too far out of the weights to seriously consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

5th Jul 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:23 Worcester

Nyoufsea

10st 2lb

J: Alison Clarke

T: Aytach Sadik

Maiden; long time since he showed worthwhile form; 9lb out of the weights; this combination of aids used for the first time.

66/1

9th

7

15th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:25 Worcester

Nyoufsea

11st 2lb

J: Alison Clarke

T: Aytach Sadik

Long-standing maiden; tried in blinkers (has run in cheekpieces); others stronger.

100/1

Form: -11223 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Made all in two small-field handicap chases at Sedgefield (2m3f/2m1f, good) back in May and on a par with those exploits when a close third at Kelso; should go well, for all that it's never going to be easy off this sort of mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Sedgefield

Nero Rock

12st 2lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Made all for wide-margin wins in two four-runner handicaps here (2m3f/2m1f, good) last May, those are his only two runs at Sedgefield and he's now 9lb below his last winning mark; switched to visor when there was an upturn in his form on latest outing; tongue-tie (absent since 2021 in his Irish days) returns and 7lb claimer is recruited; of renewed interest.

5/1

3rd

7

29th Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 3

12:45 Doncaster

Nero Rock

10st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Jennie Candlish

Won two in a row over fences at Sedgefield in May but he's finished down the field the last twice; major turnaround is required with a first-time visor replacing cheekpieces.

25/1

3rd

3

8th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 3

14:22 Newcastle

Nero Rock

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Below par at Wetherby last month and has to bounce back, but he won two in a row at Sedgefield (2m3f/2m1f, good) in May and returned from a break with a fair third of four at Kelso (2m1f, good) in October; also effective on good to soft ground and he's not written off.

9/2

Non-runners

Nero Rock

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.90
Straight Forecast £2.44
Trifecta £2.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mortlach

POSTDATA:

Minella Plus

Daily Mirror:

Nero Rock

Telegraph:

Minella Plus

The Guardian:

Minella Plus

D Express:

Minella Plus

The Star:

Minella Plus

RP Ratings:

Mortlach

TOPSPEED:

Mortlach

WEST COUNTRY:

Mortlach

The Times:

Mortlach

Daily Mail:

Mortlach

The Sun:

Mortlach

Daily Record:

Mortlach