October 26 / 16.40 Ludlow

16.40

Good To Soft

Richard Strachan Memorial Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Richard Strachan Memorial Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 22113- CD BF

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner (good/good to soft) towards end of last season and very respectable third in Grade 2 series final at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) on latest outing, despite some sketchy jumping in the early stages; has fitness to prove after six-month break but the return to this track is a big plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Record of 6-16 over fences; broke her Listed duck in Doncaster contest (2m4f) most recently, taking advantage of odds-on Brides Hill's below-par show; chance of following up partly depends on whether that opponent, who beat her by 6l in this event last year, is back on song.

4/1

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

raced in second

4/1

1st

4

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 1

13:38 Doncaster

La Renommee

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

in touch with leaders, went second 11th, going best when not fluent 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well run-in

5/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 6411-2 C BF

Last run: 160 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Gamely made all to win valuable series final over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in April and ran well in defeat at Aintree the following month; makes chasing debut after 160-day absence but could take some catching if she gets into a good jumping rhythm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:55 Hereford

Malaita

11st 1lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Mel Rowley

Two chase wins at about 2m4f in early 2024 (soft and good); has not found life easy this winter but 3m found her out on her latest start (first-time tongue-tie; cheekpieces now added) and the return to shorter on good ground should suit; bold bid likely.

3/1

2nd

2

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:42 Market Rasen

Malaita

11st 6lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Mel Rowley

Has won twice over fences, both over 2m4f; fair third in a mares' handicap at Ludlow last time (2m4f, soft); could go well but perhaps better at shorter.

9/4

3rd

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:05 Ludlow

Malaita

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Mel Rowley

10yo whose losing sequence is up to 13 after disappointing run at Windsor (2m4f, soft) latest; however, she was runner-up on final two outings in 2025 (2m4f/3m1f, good to soft/soft) and might not be far away if back on song.

12/1

5/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 7214-

Last run: 187 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Made all for easy maiden hurdle win at Wetherby (2m5f, soft) for Fergal O'Brien in March; slightly disappointing on next outing and changed stable during subsequent six-month absence but her convincing Irish point win in spring 2022 bodes well for her chasing prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

20th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:30 Market Rasen

Pougne Aminta

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Hurdle winner (2m5f) who has had only three runs over fences and was a good front-running second in a Wetherby handicap (2m3f, soft) in January; on same mark after a short break but she still has stamina to prove at this sort of trip and others are more persuasive.

100/30

2nd

4

25th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Pougne Aminta

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alastair Ralph

led

11/2

5th

12

15th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 3

13:50 Cheltenham

Pougne Aminta

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Easily made all in maiden hurdle at Wetherby (2m5f, soft) for Fergal O'Brien in March; creditable third of eight on handicap/chase debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) in October when reappearing for new yard, rallying, but she needs better if she's to turn the tables on runner-up Malaita.

20/1

Form: 9244-2

Last run: 178 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
0-4 over hurdles, with a tendency to race too freely, but ran big race in defeat in Warwick handicap (2m5f, good) in May and is open to significant further improvement if all goes to plan on today's chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

15th Jan 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:07 Hereford

Passing Reflection

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Maiden hurdler, though only had four runs; beaten 15l and 10l in two handicap chases (2m4f/2m3f) and shapes as though this drop back in trip could work in her favour; respected.

5/1

5th

4

17th Nov 2023

Good

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

14:10 Doncaster

Passing Reflection

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

0-4 over hurdles, with a tendency to race too freely, but ran big race in defeat in Warwick handicap (2m5f, good) in May; kept on steadily from the rear for respectable fourth on recent chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft), after a break, and ought to build on that performance here.

3/1

4th

7

26th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:40 Ludlow

Passing Reflection

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

0-4 over hurdles, with a tendency to race too freely, but ran big race in defeat in Warwick handicap (2m5f, good) in May and is open to significant further improvement if all goes to plan on today's chasing debut.

11/2

10/1

Form: P3012- D

Last run: 184 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Drew nicely clear to win from the front over hurdles at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) in April and lost out only by a short head at Ffos Las (2m6f, good to soft) later that month; makes chasing debut after 184-day layoff but could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

4th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:10 Southwell

Kalpaga

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Vaughan

Posted a win then a near-miss over hurdles last April (2m3f/2m6f, good to soft); unable to match that form over fences this season but she was a fair fourth at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) in December and has had a wind op since being pulled up last time; no surprise if she goes well now back hurdling.

7/1

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:27 Wetherby

Kalpaga

11st 12lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Tim Vaughan

Finished 3l fourth in similar event at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago, producing her best effort since switched to chasing; looks favourably weighted on best hurdles form and can't be ruled out.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 32101- C

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Listed bumper winner who was 3-6 in novice hurdles last season; makes chase/handicap debut after six-month absence but is unexposed over this sort of trip and could have a good future over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

26th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

11:55 Aintree

Poetic Music

12st 0lb

J: Daire Davis

T: Fergal O’Brien

prominent

13/2

6th

2

26th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:40 Ludlow

Poetic Music

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Listed bumper winner who was 3-6 in novice hurdles last season; makes chase/handicap debut after six-month absence but is unexposed over this sort of trip and could have a good future over fences.

7/2

1st

2

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Poetic Music

11st 12lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Outclassed in the 2m1f Grade 2 for mares at Cheltenham but was having a pleasing first season over hurdles before that and looks a major player at this lower level.

Evs

Form: 57336-

Last run: 333 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won heavy-ground hurdle in France in June 2021 but 0-9 over fences there since; makes British debut after 11-month absence (changed hands for 41,000euros in February); probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Its Easy

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Twice well beaten since winning by a huge margin at Bangor in November (2m4f, heavy; four ran); she's another who loves the mud (good to soft the last twice) so should give her running if nothing else.

8/1

7th

3

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 2

14:40 Fakenham

Its Easy

11st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Evan Williams

Doubled chasing tally with huge-margin success in four-runner contest at Bangor (2m4f, heavy) in November and made audacious bid from the front before weakening into eighth in big field at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last month; didn't run particularly well on her previous visit to Fakenham but could take some catching if she gets into a good rhythm.

5/1

5th

5

17th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 3

16:30 Cheltenham

Its Easy

10st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Took a good while to win over fences and that was in a four-runner race at Leicester (2m4f, soft; 2lb lower); held by Lime Drop on their clash in January and could have run better last time.

10/1

Form: 6F310-

Last run: 200 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Improved to win Limerick maiden hurdle (3m, soft) for Paul Nolan in March but disappointed on subsequent handicap debut then was sold for £20,000; drops back in trip with blinkers removed for today's stable/chase debut; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:10 Fakenham

Fortunefavorsdbold

11st 13lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Suffered early mishap three starts ago but placed on other four outings this season, most recently when second ay Exeter (3m, good) three weeks ago; ran poorly on only previous visit to Fakenham and would appeal more on ground slower than good but still features prominently in calculations.

5/2

2nd

2

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:37 Exeter

Fortunefavorsdbold

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Christian Williams

Suffered early mishap on penultimate outing but placed on other three starts this season, most recently when clear second to dual subsequent winner at Leicester (2m6f, heavy) last month; might not be ideally suited by the much quicker ground here but still commands respect.

15/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.70
Straight Forecast £13.80
Tricast £91.56
Trifecta £84.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

La Renommee

WEST COUNTRY:

Poetic Music

D Express:

Pougne Aminta

The Star:

Kalpaga

RP RATINGS:

La Renommee

TOPSPEED:

La Renommee

POSTDATA:

La Renommee

The Guardian:

La Renommee

Daily Mirror:

La Renommee

The Times:

Poetic Music

Telegraph:

Poetic Music

Daily Mail:

Poetic Music

The Sun:

Poetic Music

Daily Record:

Poetic Music