February 19 / 17.13 Ludlow

17.13

Good To Soft

Behind The Scenes Raceday Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 5f 55y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Behind The Scenes Raceday Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 2-2903 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
C&D winner (soft) in December 2023; lightly raced since but he's well treated on his best form as recently as last spring and ran well for a long way behind an improver at Southwell recently (first-time blinkers replaced cheekpieces); on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Whatsupwithyou

12st 1lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Grand servant to the yard with five wins in this sphere, the latest at Ascot (2m5f, soft) in December off 2lb lower; well held since and it's hard to see him being able to give weight away to these younger rivals.

10/1

5th

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Whatsupwithyou

11st 10lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Veteran who is usually ridden these days by Elliott England, including for a 2m5f Ludlow win last February and a C&D win (4lb higher today) in December; 33-1 when tailed off at Kempton five weeks ago but no shock if he surges back to form today in search of his third C&D win.

12/1

7th

4

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:10 Kempton

Whatsupwithyou

11st 3lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Veteran who goes well for Elliott England, gaining his second success for this rider in conditionals' event at Ascot (2m5f, soft) in December; no obvious reason why he won't be thereabouts again but he'll need more off 5lb higher.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: /243-P D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Sparingly raced since Market Rasen win (2m4f, soft) in early 2023; creditable effort at Warwick last April but pulled up at Chepstow last month on first run since (hood added, now discarded); hard to predict revival today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Worcester

Halondo

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won over hurdles for Olly Murphy in 2023; made encouraging chasing debut in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when second to Jubilant at Southwell (3m3f, good) in May and there should be little between the pair here.

3/1

2

20th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:50 Southwell

Halondo

11st 8lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Hurdle winner for Olly Murphy in 2023; well beaten on consecutive starts for Harriet Dickin at start of this year and made low-key stable debut last month but sports first-time cheekpieces for this chasing debut and may yet come good for Dan Skelton.

7/1

2

20th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:50 Southwell

Halondo

11st 8lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Hurdle winner for Olly Murphy in 2023; well beaten on consecutive starts for Harriet Dickin at start of this year and made low-key stable debut last month but sports first-time cheekpieces for this chasing debut and may yet come good for Dan Skelton.

7/1

Form: 1344

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner on soft; thereabouts in two 2m hurdles and no shame in failing to keep tabs on a Nicholls winner at Taunton (2m3f) last month; has a stout staying pedigree and open to improvement now handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:02 Doncaster

Stones Throw

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Billy Aprahamian

Won at Southwell (3m, good to soft) and over C&D (good) in December and probably found the ground too soft when well beaten last time; on a career-high mark but a possible.

9/2

7th

9

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:55 Chepstow

Stones Throw

10st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Billy Aprahamian

Stepped up to this sort of trip for last four starts and won three of them, from the front at Southwell and Doncaster on last two occasions; those were all in pretty small fields, he has more to prove on soft ground (he did win a bumper on it to start career) and has been raised another 7lb, but this 6yo also has more to offer as a stayer.

11/2

Form: F6-183

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Good effort to beat a subsequent winner in 2m3f maiden at Fontwell in October but was never competitive on handicap debut at Taunton after; had to work to take a late third at Windsor (2m4f, soft) last month and the extra furlong looks sure to suit; should have potential at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

1st

1

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Super Sabre Sam

11st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won his maiden here over 2m3f on soft; hasn't look on that good a mark in handicaps but was beaten under 5l over C&D last time in first-time cheekpieces; each-way claims.

4/1

Form: 491458

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made short work of rivals in ordinary Hereford novice (2m, good) in November; failed to flourish over fences on next two starts and was never sighted back hurdling at Southwell (11l behind Whatsupwithyou); work to do on that effort but no surprise to see him fare better here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 10lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) in October and followed up in a chase here over the same trip later that month when finishing alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; needs to bounce back.

12/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 3lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) where he finished alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; on a perfectly good mark if he can bounce back to form.

9/1

5th

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 5lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) later in October where he finished alone after being left in isolation three out; tailed off in a Hereford chase on latest start and absent 107 days since; back hurdling on a competitive mark but with more to prove on worse than good to soft.

6/1

Form: U55-05 C

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Losing run goes back to a chase win in 2022 but he's lightly raced for his age and he showed up well in a female amateur jockeys' race over C&D (good to soft) in December, on second run back from a layoff and for new yard; might still have needed that run; can go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Zacony Rebel

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won from well out of the weights at Ludlow and off only 3lb higher he followed up at the expense of three rivals (3m, good), taking his record there to 3-5; has another 6lb rise to contend with but has won here and has to be taken seriously.

13/2

1st

5

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Veteran who bounced back with 33-1 success from well out of the weights over C&D (good) most recently, taking Ludlow record to 2-4; just no certainty to follow up, having been inconsistent for a while.

7/2

1st

8

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:30 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won a five-runner handicap at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in December but this veteran has struggled in five subsequent runs; has lots to prove and he's a long way out of the weights.

40/1

Form: 3-3664

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Latest hurdle win was in 2022 but she won and ran well over fences in the early months of 2024; below best over hurdles this winter but her mark continues to slide so can't ignore.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:12 Ffos Las

Midnight Ginger

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Butler

T: Andrew J Martin

On a long losing run but she wasn't discredited on the back of wind surgery when fourth of six in 2m3f Warwick handicap 60 days ago; possibilities off a falling mark.

12/1

4th

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Warwick

Midnight Ginger

11st 11lb

J: Dillon Butler

T: Andrew J Martin

Runner-up at Ludlow last February and now 8lb lower; however, this 10yo has struggled to get competitive since; has had wind surgery since last time, which needs to make a big difference.

14/1

Form: 58-25F

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won point and bumper in 2023; maiden over hurdles but she's run well in two of her four handicaps and had only just given best when falling heavily (2m4f, soft; lay winded) at the last at Ffos Las in January; form chance but needs to show that experience hasn't left its mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:00 Downpatrick

Saunton Surf

11st 5lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Gary McGill

Some decent form when trained in Britain; couple of fair efforts in handicap hurdles since joining this yard, including when fifth of 12 here (2m6f) last time; 99-rated hurdler should be in the mix if she takes to larger obstacles.

9/1

5th

1

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 185y

14:42 Downpatrick

Saunton Surf

12st 0lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Gary McGill

Some decent form when trained in Britain; best of three runs by far for new yard came last time at Down Royal when a 7.75l fifth (behind Coppola); cheekpieces on now.

12/1

5th

2

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

14:28 Down Royal

Saunton Surf

12st 0lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Gary McGill

Had some decent form when trained in Britain but hard to fancy on her first two runs for this yard; dropping in grade may help.

33/1

Selections

The Times:

Super Sabre Sam

RP RATINGS:

Whatsupwithyou

The Guardian:

Midnight Ginger

SPOTLIGHT:

Zacony Rebel

Telegraph:

Super Sabre Sam

Daily Mail:

Super Sabre Sam

Daily Mirror:

Super Sabre Sam

The Sun:

Super Sabre Sam

The Star:

Super Sabre Sam

D Express:

Midnight Ginger

TOPSPEED:

Whatsupwithyou

POSTDATA:

Whatsupwithyou

Daily Record:

Whatsupwithyou