December 04 / 12.23 Ludlow

12.23

Good To Soft

Marsh Commercial Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 174y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Marsh Commercial Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.20
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 48-830

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner in 2022-23 season but has been largely disappointing in handicaps and was beaten 42l at Chepstow (2m3f) last month; mark continues to fall but he has plenty to prove at this new trip; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Despereaux

11st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner who ended last year with a brave success at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft); well held there in both runs this spring but he got involved in a battle up front last time; a player if he can get back near his best.

13/2

5th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

15:20 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Jane Williams

Steadily worked his way back to form this season, culminating in a narrow win over C&D (good to soft; 5lb higher today) in December under 7lb claimer; reverted to a lesser show 19 days ago but perhaps he needed that run after more than three months off.

3/1

5th

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Had been struggling but has steadily got himself back on track and prevailed narrowly over C&D in December on latest appearance; 6lb higher for this and connections claimed another 7lb last time through Isabelle Ryder, but he had dropped to a fair mark anyway.

2/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 558693

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden who has not progressed over hurdles but he made some late headway when a 16l third at Fakenham (2m4f, good; cheekpieces added) in October and shaped as though this step back up in trip could suit; not ruled out off sliding mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:52 Uttoxeter

Galway Reel

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ian Williams

Won a chase over 3m in September and nearly won another two runs back; produced a solid effort in defeat on his return to hurdling here last week and Sean Bowen rides again.

5/4

2nd

6

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

18:20 Uttoxeter

Galway Reel

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ian Williams

Gained a breakthrough win over fences at Market Rasen (3m) in September and posted a good second in handicap chase at Leicester (2m7f) when last seen out in December; proved reliable over hurdles so rates a player back in this sphere off a reduced mark.

2/1

5

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:22 Worcester

Galway Reel

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Got off the mark on his third chase start at Market Rasen (3m, good) last month; third to Grillon De Monty on his previous outing but he may have improved since.

9/2

Form: 8-5753

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Point winner who is 1-11 over hurdles but that win was off 4lb higher at Market Rasen (2m4f) in February and she ran well to finish third of 17 at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) last month; pulled 6l clear of the fourth in that race and is a big player if she can build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:02 Chepstow

The Midwife

11st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Better chaser than hurdler and won by over 8l here last month; a 7lb rise didn't look too harsh and she duly ran well again at Warwick, finding only one too good (again on soft); enters the reckoning.

3/1

2nd

5

21st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Warwick

The Midwife

11st 10lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in rear, headway 12th, went third after 13th, no impression approaching last, kept on and went second towards finish, no match for winner

7/4

1st

7

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

The Midwife

10st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Won her only point; handicap hurdle win came off 2lb higher and she ran two solid races in that discipline before finding only one too good on her switch to fences over C&D 12 days ago (heavy); aided by another low weight, she should have a part to play.

5/1

Form: P7-768 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Won at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good to soft) in May 2023 but she's generally struggled since and was a long way behind The Midwife on her Chepstow reappearance last month; 6lb out of the weights this time and can only be watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft); on a lengthy losing run and arrives with plenty to prove from 4lb wrong.

33/1

18

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

Struggled last year and competes from 6lb out of the handicap today; needs January's wind op to have made a big difference.

66/1

8

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Elfride

10st 3lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft) in May 2023; well below par on her last five starts; blinkers now accompany tongue-tie; back on her winning mark but plenty to prove.

16/1

Form: 323-00

Last run: 107 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Versatile 8yo who has form at up to 3m1f; well handicapped on her second here (2m5f, soft) last December but she was out of sorts when last seen during the summer; bit to prove after another break and she needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

9th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:05 Hereford

Kazontherazz

11st 0lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Ended last season with two fairly respectable thirds (one behind Could Be Trouble) under Daire McConville (2m5f/3m1f, good) and remains on a good mark but her last win was in 2021 and she's not very reliable.

13/2

3

9th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:05 Hereford

Kazontherazz

11st 0lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Ended last season with two fairly respectable thirds (one behind Could Be Trouble) under Daire McConville (2m5f/3m1f, good) and remains on a good mark but her last win was in 2021 and she's not very reliable.

13/2

3rd

1

11th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

17:38 Huntingdon

Kazontherazz

12st 0lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Hasn't won a race since late 2021 but continues to run well now and again, as was the case last time at Haydock when tried in cheekpieces (2m5f, good); can't be ruled out in this weak a contest.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 942

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 4yo who has shaped with promise in both his hurdle runs (2m2f/2m), most recently when a rallying second behind his main market rival at Hereford last month; has quite a bit of stamina on dam's side and he should have more to offer now handicapping over a staying trip; needs close look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:53 Ludlow

Bits N Pieces

11st 10lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

5yo who is very lightly raced and has shown ability but he was struggling before stamina may have been an issue on handicap debut here (3m, good to soft) in December and has something to prove after that.

14/1

2

4th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

12:23 Ludlow

Bits N Pieces

11st 9lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Unexposed 4yo who has shaped with promise in both his hurdle runs (2m2f/2m), most recently when a rallying second behind his main market rival at Hereford last month; has quite a bit of stamina on dam's side and he should have more to offer now handicapping over a staying trip; needs close look.

2/1

2

4th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

12:23 Ludlow

Bits N Pieces

11st 9lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Unexposed 4yo who has shaped with promise in both his hurdle runs (2m2f/2m), most recently when a rallying second behind his main market rival at Hereford last month; has quite a bit of stamina on dam's side and he should have more to offer now handicapping over a staying trip; needs close look.

2/1

Form: 488-9

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to high-class jumper Thyme Hill; hasn't finished closer than eighth in her three hurdle runs so far but it's still early days and she could look a different proposition now upped to 2m7f on handicap debut; yard won this in 2022 and had the runner-up last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

3rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:18 Southwell

Extra Cover

10st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

prominent, clipped heels 6th

12/1

13

3rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:18 Southwell

Extra Cover

10st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

prominent, clipped heels 6th

12/1

4th

7

1st Jan 2025

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:25 Fakenham

Extra Cover

10st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Henry Daly

Yet to get competitive in five starts, including when pulled up on last month's handicap debut (3m); more needed.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.70
Straight Forecast £18.70
Trifecta £46.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bits N Pieces

RP RATINGS:

Kazontherazz

Telegraph:

The Midwife

The Guardian:

Galway Reel

WEST COUNTRY:

Bits N Pieces

The Times:

Bits N Pieces

Daily Mail:

Bits N Pieces

Daily Mirror:

Bits N Pieces

The Star:

Bits N Pieces

Daily Record:

Bits N Pieces

The Sun:

The Midwife

POSTDATA:

Kazontherazz

D Express:

Kazontherazz