Ludlow Thursday 16th November

Ludlow 3.00 3 Cowslip @ 16/1 (specifically with Ladbrokes or Coral - odds to 4th) 1/4 point each way

Ludlow 3.30 11 Abbeygrey @ 25/1 / 5 By The Broadwalk @ 10/1 (both 1/4 point each way)

Firstly I can't resist a small dabble on COWSLIP in the 3.00 race. The key here is Ladbrokes and Coral

offering odds to 4th place. I am attacking that 4th place really as I think the odds of 16/1 are just too good to ignore.

The market leaders Mullaghmurphy Blue and Bollin Line are solid but not unbeateable at this trip; Dunns River and

Market Road are real dangers but the former may just need this run and I have not got a clue about the jockey

of the Evan Williams runner (his daughter); they seem a group of young jocks with the exception of Jamie Codd.

Cowslip does have a jockey who is decent and knows how to win races; Donald McCain places horses in these

amateur races very well and if you look back at the horses form, it won off 110 at Cartmel last year and had a good

run at Carlisle on seasonal debut, it finished in front of a decent horse rated 112 (My Little Cracker) that day and if

you look at that form in the context of this race, the price and the jockey experience relative to most jumps off the page!

The 3.30 is a typically tough competitive and deep Ludlow handicap. I think the Going will be a bit tacky, especially

around the tight top turn which has to go above a bunker and between the fence, can cut up badly there. The obvious

one is Petite Power yard on fire and stayed on well at Cheltenham last time, interesting they come here today and not

back there over the weekend. It can though hit flat spots in running and this track may not suit that; at 11/4 it may

be a win banker (have a saver if you wish) but I want to take it on. I could make claims for all the field to be honest;

After Hours and Aunty Ann look opposable but dangerous, Cerunnos can turn it on once in a while and this is the

type of track where it could pop up!. The Happy Chappy could be anything (we'll find out today!) and Kelvingrove and

Caulfields Venture are on very winnable marks, but I will have a bash with two others.

ABBEYGREY is as high as 25/1 with Paddy P and that reflects some recent form, but yard on fire; good young boy

is riding very well, love the way he presents his horse to a fence; and it is on a very nice mark and if it does cut up

and become a bit of a test, I can see it staying on down the straight and out running odds. The other one to note is

BY THE BROADWALK; another in form Trainer and decent pilot, ran well here before, needed seasonal debut but

won on 2nd run last year off a mark of 120. It likes flat right handed tracks and Market Rasen and Perth are as close

to Ludlow in style as you will find, being right handed too, and just a view that with the yard in form, it can run a big race.