(Ian) - Ludlow 3.10
Ludlow 3.10 Handicap Hurdle - Class 5 - 3 miles - 13 run - Good to Soft
I'll start with the market leaders Mr Washington, going for a treble upped slightly in trip and Kabrit, coming off the back of 3 placed runs at the trip including Course and Distance last Monday. It's impossible to ignore them but at the prices I really can't split them so I suggest a small reverse forecast to fund a sporting each way bet.
Of the remainder, Deer Hunter is upped in trip but with a profile that gives no clues as to whether it will get 3 miles or not, Diamond Rose is a Course winner who just about gets 3 miles but better at shorter and who ideally wants "Good" ground, Harry Haze who is markedly up in trip and similar profile to Deer Hunter, and Orchard Grove an ex Irish horse who did OK for Kerry Lee on stable debut and another upped in trip, could all be real dangers IF and IF is the key word getting the easy 3 miles round here, but I think there are a couple with more substantive claims.
Shininstar and Crown Hill have bits of old form that are of interest but really need to see more from both, so I'm most interested in ENCHANCIA and MONTANNA.
Enchancia is a 3 mile P2P winner, needs good ground but upped to this trip for first time under Rules should outrun nice e/w Odds and only the 266 days off puts me off. Definitely one to track in the hope I don't regret not having a punt like Sean on yesterday on one I'm flagging up to keep a close eye on.
The one that really jumps off the page though is MONTANNA for Peter and Sean Bowen and I can't resist the 16-18/1. Been Chasing and struggled with jumping the fences, indeed, lets not kid ourselves it's not a natural jumper of Hurdles either but the back form of a 3rd place in a Class 3 at Ffos Llas a year ago is staggering in the context off this race. It was beaten 3 lengths by 137 rated Champers On Ice, and beat 130 rated Pobbles Bay, it runs here off a mark of 107 and cannot be ignored. It may or may not replicate that form but it was over Hurdles and this is an easy 3 miles and not notoriously tough obstacles. Got to be worth an investment.
TIP - MONTANNA - (Reverse F/C on Mr Washington + Kabrit - must take 4th place available on the selection