16.37
Good To FirmMichael Oliver Memorial Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £3973.6
- 2m 4f 11y
- Class 5
- 4 runners
Runners: 4 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 311-22 D
Last run: 16 days
W: 12st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
15th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Bold-jumping front-runner with seven chase wins, four under Gavin Sheehan; didn't get to the front at Southwell (2m, good) last month and never threatened the winner but shaped as though still in form; remains 7lb higher than for his latest win but could prove hard to catch if allowed an easy lead. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
2nd Jun 2026 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Bold-jumping front-runner with seven wins from 18 starts over fences; ideally served by further than 2m but won over this trip at Chepstow (good to soft) in April; ran well again when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last month and will be the one to catch. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
7th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 189y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Took form to another new level when winning by 10l from the front at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month and is now 7-17 over fences (includes course win); today's trip-and-ground combination will also suit; respected. |
5/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 313-24
Last run: 15 days
W: 11st 13lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
25th Mar 2026 Good 2m 0f 8y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Reliable veteran who was in good form when last seen, finishing third on his last three runs; won this off 1lb lower last year and he's worth considering back from a break. |
5/2 |
|
4 |
8th Oct 2025 Good To Firm 2m 4f 11y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Just one win from 24 starts but that was by 11l over fences at Hereford (2m, good) in March and he ran into a handicap blot there in final run in the spring; looks interesting off 3lb lower on his return and his win was under Shane Quinlan. |
11/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 3-552F
Last run: 21 days
W: 10st 11lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
18th Jul 2026 Good 2m 1f 61y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
Triple hurdle winner who is 0-8 over fences but he's on a dangerous mark and wasn't beaten far when third at Market Rasen (2m2f, good) on penultimate run; has possibilities if he can get back near that level and yard is in good form; wore blinkers last time but regular cheekpieces now return. |
11/2 |
|
5th 7 |
17th Jun 2026 Good 2m 0f 110y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
Back from break with three respectable runs this spring, perhaps most notably when third of five at Market Rasen (2m1f, good); now 0-7 over fences, though, and probably needs today's headgear switch (blinkers instead of cheekpieces) to give him a boost. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 43y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
Not at his best at Stratford 11 days ago and now 0-6 over fences but he had returned from a break with a pretty good third over C&D (good) last month and his current mark is workable. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: -34513 D
Last run: 34 days
W: 10st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 83
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 9 |
10th Jul 2026 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
2-13 over hurdles, the latter win gained off this mark over C&D (good) last summer; has lost his way a bit since, though, and was safely held off his lower chase mark last month; others have more pressing claims. |
16/1 |
|
4th 9 |
6th Jun 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 7lb |
Scored over fences in April 2025 on heavy, and has won twice over hurdles since but has lost his form in that sphere; now returns to fences; hard to fancy. |
12/1 |
|
7th 5 |
28th Mar 2026 Good 2m 6f 7y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
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 |
Non-runners
Stardhem
Verdict
With ten wins, including this race in 2021, Ludlow is third only to Cheltenham and Fakenham on the list of Gina Andrews’ most successful rules courses as a rider, and her booking for PEP TALKING has to be a plus. For his part, Billy Aprahamian’s gelding ought to prove better for this month’s return. Stardhem’s hat-trick bid in April foundered badly behind the selection, but he may bounce back if the six-month break has done him good. [Jeremy Grayson]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Pep TalkingRP RATINGS:
Cawthorne CrackerThe Times:
PooroldmackleyPOSTDATA:
Pep Talking