November 09 / 14.35 Ludlow

14.35

Good To Soft

NFU Mutual Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 1m 7f 212y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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NFU Mutual Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2P1525

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Belatedly gained first career win at Stratford (2m1f, good to soft) in August, keeping on well to lead close home; also ran well when second over 2m3f there two starts ago but his overall profile remains rather unconvincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

13:37 Worcester

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner whose form dipped in May/June and he fared little better over hurdles three weeks ago; should be sharper for that now back over fences but needs to find some spark.

25/1

1

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Famoso

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Six-time chase winner (once here); competes off lower mark on this rare hurdling start but was not firing on all cylinders when last seen in the spring and needs to have been refreshed by three-month break.

16/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: /445-2

Last run: 184 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to stable's smart chaser Cepage; 0-4 over hurdles but his second to a next-time-out winner at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in May was a good effort and he ought to have more to offer over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Hunter Legend

10st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Reserve; Venetia Williams and Lucy Turner combined to win this at 40-1 in 2022 and this fellow was in pretty good heart over 3m this winter; however, today's stiffer test of stamina poses a question and he was soundly beaten at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last time; wears first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

5th

8

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has posted consistent efforts over 3m of late but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in trip, especially when conditions are testing; yet to win beyond an extended 2m6f.

14/1

2nd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has done his winning at up to 2m6f; not disgraced over 3m the last twice but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in distance, at least when conditions are testing; strong suspicion he's going to be outstayed.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: /30P-0

Last run: 182 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Gained all three wins on AW; well handicapped on some of his hurdling form but both runs in that sphere this year were very disappointing and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

3

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:55 Stratford

Phoenix Aquilus

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Seamus Mullins

Still a maiden over jumps and ended up a long way behind when back from a break at Uttoxeter.

10/1

9th

3

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:55 Uttoxeter

Phoenix Aquilus

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Seamus Mullins

Still a maiden over jumps but showed encouraging form last November/December for Seamus Durack; heed the market signals on return from layoff and debut for new yard.

7/1

Form: P96-7

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Still unexposed under rules but struggled on recent seasonal/chase/handicap debut at Kelso (2m1f, soft) and is effectively 5lb higher from further out of the weights here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Uttoxeter

King Of The Hill

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

Three nothing runs have followed since going close over fences at Warwick in March; returns to hurdling with cheekpieces added but he's 5lb out of the weights.

33/1

9

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Worcester

King Of The Hill

10st 4lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

0-14 under rules; ran big race in defeat at Warwick (2m4f, good) in March, after a layoff, and has good claims if judged on that effort but but two non-completions have followed; others preferred.

7/1

5

9th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

King Of The Hill

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Sam Allwood

0-10 as a chaser but ran a good race in defeat at Warwick (2m4f, good) before falling early at Southwell; being 3lb out of the weights is not ideal but hard to rule out.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: /2653-

Last run: 471 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Placed off 1lb higher mark for Ryan Potter on handicap hurdle debut at Worcester (2m, good) in July 2022; makes stable/chase debut after 471-day absence but market support would be interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

20:25 Newton Abbot

Crews Pitch

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Samuel Drinkwater

0-9 under rules; bettered poor stable debut when respectable sixth in first-time cheekpieces at Hereford (2m, good) three weeks ago but needs to take another good step forward here; seems best on good/good to firm ground.

25/1

6th

4

24th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

20:00 Hereford

Crews Pitch

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Well beaten on chasing debut in November (only start for Laura Morgan) and also struggled when switched back to hurdling for current stable in March; needs to get career back on track but combination of first-time cheekpieces. refitted tongue-tie and return to good ground can aid his cause.

25/1

6th

4

24th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

20:00 Hereford

Crews Pitch

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Well beaten on chasing debut in November (only start for Laura Morgan) and also struggled when switched back to hurdling for current stable in March; needs to get career back on track but combination of first-time cheekpieces. refitted tongue-tie and return to good ground can aid his cause.

25/1

Form: 11F377 D

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m chase winner on good ground in June but had gone right off the boil when last season in August and returns from ten-week break with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

13:40 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

midfield, jumped right 6th

20/1

13

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

13:40 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

midfield, jumped right 6th

20/1

9

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:13 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Won over fences here (2m, good) in June 2023 but was well beaten here on both starts this autumn (2m4f hurdle/3m chase); still has stamina to prove over this sort of trip and is 3lb wrong today; others preferred.

14/1

Form: -52346 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner (2m-2m4f); ran quite well when fourth at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in September and probably didn't get the trip when below that form over 3m last month, but his sole chasing attempt in 2022 did not go well (jumped poorly, pulled up).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

9th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 5

14:35 Ludlow

Ten Past Midnight

10st 11lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Four-time hurdle winner (2m-2m4f); ran quite well when fourth at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in September and probably didn't get the trip when below that form over 3m last month, but his sole chasing attempt in 2022 did not go well (jumped poorly, pulled up).

11/2

6th

7

15th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:55 Ffos Las

Ten Past Midnight

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Four-time hurdle winner at up to 2m4f; good effort when fourth of 12 at Southwell (2m4f, good) three weeks ago and is suited by slow ground but today's test may tax his stamina; refitted cheekpieces replace visor.

7/1

4th

8

24th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

15:10 Plumpton

Ten Past Midnight

10st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Twice placed during July at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft), a course he always runs well; does have form elsewhere and has won over this longer trip, so brings fairly solid credentials.

8/1

Form: -62247

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three 2m chases this year and seems versatile regarding ground but didn't fire on latest outing and is now 0-12 over fences; 5lb wrong here; others have stronger claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

7th

12

4th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:20 Hereford

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

His second at Stratford came in a weak race and was pulled up next time to extend losing sequence to 37.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.00
Straight Forecast £12.12
Tricast £41.45
Trifecta £78.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hunter Legend

POSTDATA:

Famoso

TOPSPEED:

Go Fox

WEST COUNTRY:

Ten Past Midnight

The Guardian:

Lonimoss Bareliere

Daily Mail:

Hunter Legend

D Express:

Hunter Legend

The Star:

Hunter Legend

Daily Record:

Hunter Legend

The Times:

Famoso

Daily Mirror:

Famoso

The Sun:

Famoso

Telegraph:

Go Fox