November 25 / 14.15 Ludlow

14.15

Good To Soft

Flowfit Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 1m 7f 169y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Flowfit Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 39P5-4 D BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Has won on good and good to soft; was returning from absence when seeing the race out encouragingly at Warwick 20 days ago, an event he won two years earlier off a 10lb higher mark; has every chance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

21st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Iontach Cheval

10st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Ran fairly well over 2m here on seasonal debut in November but two very disappointing runs have followed (2m/2m7f; blinkers added last time) and it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood today.

33/1

8th

2

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:30 Uttoxeter

Iontach Cheval

12st 0lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Made quite encouraging seasonal debut last month (2m, good) but ran poorly over that trip three weeks later and also struggled on only previous attempt at 2m7f; sports first-time blinkers; risky.

12/1

8th

2

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:30 Uttoxeter

Iontach Cheval

12st 0lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Made quite encouraging seasonal debut last month (2m, good) but ran poorly over that trip three weeks later and also struggled on only previous attempt at 2m7f; sports first-time blinkers; risky.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 87-543

Last run: 134 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Signs of progress this summer but she was placed in a 3m point (on soft) and may need longer distances than this before fulfilling her potential; makes her handicap debut this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

15:55 Hereford

Belle Montrose

10st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Has a fondness for Fakenham and she put up a good show when winning her second chase on that track (2m5f, good to soft) in January from out of the weights; has continued in form there since but others might be stronger finishers away from that track.

4/1

2nd

4

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

14:14 Fakenham

Belle Montrose

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Won for the second time here, but the first over this distance, in January at 40-1; unlucky not to finish closer when second of three finishers back over C&D (soft) four weeks ago and must be on the shortlist.

2/1

2nd

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

14:50 Fakenham

Belle Montrose

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Made it 2-3 here when coming from off the pace on good to soft a month ago and that was from 6lb out of the weights; that was a return to form from nowhere but it was her first go over this far under rules; 4lb higher.

2/1

Form: 549-00 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Former Group 2 winner on the Flat in Germany; has won a handicap over hurdles but hasn't progressed and he's been completely tailed off in two runs for current yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Quian

11st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Has been resurgent after wind surgery and he's won at Catterick (2m3f, soft/good to soft) in the last two of his three runs for current yard; up another 5lb but he scored with some authority last time and remains well treated on old form; key player.

2/1

1st

8

25th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Quian

11st 3lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Lizzie Quinlan

pressed leader, led 4th

5/2

1st

8

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

13:05 Catterick

Quian

10st 12lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

raced in second, not fluent 2 out, ridden and led after 2 out, edged left run-in, kept on well

11/2

Form: 8-5921 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Something has clicked, having chased home a dark horse at Uttoxeter (2m, good) and then going one better on his return visit; up 5lb and good ground might be ideal but he's one of the few who are in form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:35 Taunton

El Vigaro

11st 8lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Matt Sheppard

Bids for a hat-trick, having won 2m events at Uttoxeter and Ludlow (beat Badlands Boy) the last twice; may improve further at this level and Ned Fox takes off a useful 5lb; shortlisted.

3/1

1st

5

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:35 Taunton

El Vigaro

11st 8lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Matt Sheppard

Bids for a hat-trick, having won 2m events at Uttoxeter and Ludlow (beat Badlands Boy) the last twice; may improve further at this level and Ned Fox takes off a useful 5lb; shortlisted.

3/1

1st

4

25th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

14:15 Ludlow

El Vigaro

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

disputed lead early, prominent from 2nd, led narrowly 3rd, faced challenge 4 out, shaken up and went clear 2 out, ridden out run-in, reduced lead towards finish, always doing enough

7/4

Form: 3P9-60

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Fourth in a bumper and third in a Sedgefield maiden hurdle last winter but he's offered little in three handicaps (2m-2m5f); on go cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

14:35 Catterick

Badlands Boy

11st 8lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Maiden who showed patchy form over hurdles and was well beaten last time, but he was a good second at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) two starts ago in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) and his trainer's horses often make better chasers; this 6yo is not ruled out.

12/1

6th

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

14:35 Catterick

Badlands Boy

11st 8lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

towards rear but in touch with leaders, weakened after 2 out, hit last

12/1

11th

10

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:35 Taunton

Badlands Boy

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Nine-race maiden who ran well in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow most recently, finishing 1l second to El Vigaro; may build on that effort; possibilities in the retained headgear.

10/1

Form: 7998

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Offered little in three maiden hurdles and the same again when 33-1 for handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) recently; hard to be at all confident about his chances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:57 Stratford

Pooroldmackley

11st 1lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won off 4lb lower at Worcester (2m7f, good) last August under usual rider Eleanor Williams but out of form since; needs to be back to his peak.

9/1

9

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:57 Doncaster

Pooroldmackley

10st 11lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won over hurdles at Worcester (2m7f, good) last August and he's versatile ground-wise; however, he hasn't shone over fences/hurdles on his two starts since and needs to get back on track.

33/1

Form: 499-0

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Struggles continued when 25-1 for his handicap debut at Stratford, though the ground was heavy; remains opposable, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:05 Wincanton

Admiral Fitz

11st 7lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

23,000euros 3yo buy from Flat family; fell in a point in December 2022 and remote second in one last April, before sold for £4,000 in May; hooded for this rules debut and probably best watched.

33/1

Selections

POSTDATA:

El Vigaro

SPOTLIGHT:

Iontach Cheval

The Times:

El Vigaro

Telegraph:

El Vigaro

The Guardian:

El Vigaro

Daily Mail:

El Vigaro

D Express:

El Vigaro

Daily Mirror:

El Vigaro

The Sun:

El Vigaro

The Star:

El Vigaro

Daily Record:

El Vigaro

RP RATINGS:

Iontach Cheval