February 19 / 14.30 Ludlow

14.30

Good To Soft

Luke Watson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 7f 174y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Luke Watson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 2223

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Stayed 3m in points so this far is worth exploring and he's run well in all his races under rules (2m-2m4f), with his heaviest defeat (by 18l) coming at the hands of a smart one; every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:40 Haydock

Bold Recruit

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Billy Aprahamian

0-5 in Irish points; placed in his two bumpers and off the mark in a maiden at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in February on third start over hurdles; fair third of six to Burrows Hall on handicap debut at Doncaster (3m, good) last month but needs markedly better than that with his mark unchanged.

9/1

7

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:40 Haydock

Bold Recruit

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Billy Aprahamian

0-5 in Irish points; placed in his two bumpers and off the mark in a maiden at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in February on third start over hurdles; fair third of six to Burrows Hall on handicap debut at Doncaster (3m, good) last month but needs markedly better than that with his mark unchanged.

9/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:02 Doncaster

Bold Recruit

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Billy Aprahamian

in touch with leaders, prominent before 2nd, pressed leader from 7th, switched left after 3 out, hit 2 out, soon weakened

7/2

Form: 55

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In top hands but was a disappointing favourite in his bumper and went off 33-1 when again well beaten in a 2m5f maiden at Warwick; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Doctor Midas

11st 9lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Henrietta C Knight

Chased home one who was on the middle leg of a five-timer in Ascot novice handicap hurdle (about 3m, good to soft) in November but ran poorly in similar event back at that track one month later; same mark for this chase debut and untried on softer than good to soft but he's still respected.

9/2

1

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:48 Fontwell

Doctor Midas

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Had three starts for Nicky Henderson; comfortably held in two runs for current yard, the latest his handicap debut over 3m at Ludlow (good to soft; beaten about 8l); down only 2lb.

7/1

4th

5

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

15:08 Ludlow

Doctor Midas

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

Had three starts for Nicky Henderson, finishing with second to an impressive winner in C&D maiden (good to soft) and he just holds third-placed Swift Jet on that result; forgiven his 2m5f run for new connections last month and this test should suit on handicap debut.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 74

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The horse who beat him in a point has been competitive under rules and this 5yo now looks ready for a test of stamina after his one-paced fourth (beaten 24l) over 2m4f at Wincanton; has to step up but that's perfectly feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Keel Strand

11st 9lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Progressive 5yo who won three in a row at Newton Abbot in June/July (2m5f-3m2f, good); found things a bit tougher when upped in grade over C&D last time, though, and the ground may turn against him today.

3/1

8

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

15:37 Uttoxeter

Keel Strand

10st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Improving 5yo who comes here after three consecutive wins at Newton Abbot (2m5f-3m2f, good); hiked up in grade today but the form of his latest success was recently given a boost by the clear runner-up; needs to be taken very seriously.

15/8

1

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:33 Newton Abbot

Keel Strand

12st 6lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Lightly raced point runner-up who won a C&D novice (good) last month in a first-time tongue-tie (retained since) and followed up on handicap debut here (3m2f, good); did it readily and has strong claims under 7lb penalty.

11/10

Form: 74

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed a bit in his bumper (seventh of 13 on good to soft) but he was a market drifter when in trouble a good way out on his switch to hurdling at Plumpton (2m4f, soft); others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Loch Frisa

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

led, not fluent 2nd, headed 5th, lost second before 6th, weakened quickly from 3 out

10/1

4

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Loch Frisa

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

led, not fluent 2nd, headed 5th, lost second before 6th, weakened quickly from 3 out

10/1

3

26th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

14:15 Market Rasen

Loch Frisa

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Showed some ability in his only bumper and at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; 20-1) in his second maiden hurdle; this drop back in trip might help and he's a likely player.

5/4

Form: 7225

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Improved form when going close over a similar trip at Uttoxeter (good to soft) and his 4l defeat at Catterick last time was in handicap company; should hold every chance back in a maiden.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

5th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:17 Hereford

Pike Road

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Thorough stayer, a dual winner over 2m7f last season, latterly on soft ground at Uttoxeter in November; dropped in class at Southwell on latest start but proved unsuited by the drop to 2m4f, and this trip is likely to find him out again.

7/1

6th

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Pike Road

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Thorough stayer who has won twice over 2m7f this season, the latest on soft ground at Uttoxeter in November; quite highly tried on last two starts; interesting down in grade.

2/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The last of his two Flat wins (from 20 starts) was at 2m but fairly modest in that scene and lacks the same potential as the best of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(2)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Queensland Boy

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Last three wins, including two for Ryan Kavanagh last spring, have come over further; back in form when arguably an unlucky loser at Wolverhampton on Tuesday (extended 2m) and his claims are obvious off the same mark.

9/4

2nd

5

(5)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

16:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Queensland Boy

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Generally disappointing since winning twice (once over C&D) last May but encountered traffic when fifth (behind Belle Of KT) over 1m6f here a fortnight ago and continues to lurk on a good mark; can't be ruled out.

5/1

7

8th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:35 Chelmsford (AW)

Queensland Boy

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Form: 9-5

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo who was returning from a year out when beaten 9l at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft), which was huge improvement on his bumper run; there are races in him and has stamina in his pedigree.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

16:42 Newbury

Swift Jet

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard Phillips

Bounced back from two falls over fences to win pretty much as he liked over hurdles at Doncaster (3m, good to soft); this looks a better race and he's 7lb higher, but this gelding hasn't had a lot of racing.

15/2

1st

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:57 Doncaster

Swift Jet

11st 10lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard Phillips

8yo who is lightly raced for his age; he's fallen over fences this winter on his first two chase starts and remains a maiden but before those he kept on for an encouraging third over hurdles at Ludlow (3m, good to soft); not ruled out each-way now back in this sphere.

20/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Pike Road

SPOTLIGHT:

Keel Strand

The Times:

Swift Jet

The Guardian:

Bold Recruit

WEST COUNTRY:

Keel Strand

D Express:

Keel Strand

The Star:

Keel Strand

POSTDATA:

Pike Road

Daily Mail:

Pike Road

Daily Mirror:

Pike Road

The Sun:

Pike Road

Telegraph:

Swift Jet

Daily Record:

Bold Recruit