Welcome to Ludlow — A Lovely Summer's Evening for a Punt

Right, pull up a stool and let me tell you about tonight's card at Ludlow, because there's a fair bit to get stuck into across six races this Saturday evening. Good ground has been declared, and in the middle of August that's about as straightforward as going conditions get in National Hunt racing — no excuses for connections, no soft-ground specialists sneaking a run in conditions they don't deserve. The ground is honest, the track is fair, and the racing should be good. Ludlow is one of those lovely undulating right-handed tracks that rewards a genuine galloper and punishes anything that doesn't stay — bear that in mind when you're weighing up your selections tonight.

Check out the full Ludlow racecard for all the details, but let me walk you through what I'm looking at across the six contests. There's a bit of everything here — maiden hurdles, novice hurdles, handicap chases and handicap hurdles — and some interesting trainer and jockey angles to consider. Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton are at it again, running horses in multiple races, and the Twiston-Davies yard are also well represented. Let's get into it.

The Feature Race: 19:04 Handicap Hurdle Over 2m 7f

I'm calling the 19:04 handicap hurdle over 2 miles 7 furlongs the feature of the evening, and here's why — it's a proper stamina test on a summer evening, and that weeds out the pretenders fierce quick. Six runners, decent prize money at £8,800, and a field that has a right mix of course-and-distance experience and class.

Ernest Gray (rated 121, Alan King, Jonathan Burke) heads the weights and has the [D] flag — a distance winner — which on this stamina-sapping trip over nearly three miles of Ludlow turf is no small thing. Alan King knows how to place a horse, Burke is a polished jockey who doesn't waste energy, and on Good ground this lad should be travelling sweetly. He's the one they all have to beat.

Ballintubber Boy (rated 120, Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies) carries both the [C] and [D] flags — course AND distance winner — and that is a massive tick in this company. Nine years old, he knows his way around Ludlow and he stays all day long. The one-pound difference between him and Ernest Gray at the top of the weights makes this a fascinating duel. I wouldn't be shocked if Ballintubber Boy pings the last and nicks it. He's my each-way flag in this one.

Kiwi de Cotte (rated 111, Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) also has course and distance form, and the Skelton yard are flying at the moment. Six years old, well handicapped relative to the top two, and Harry Skelton will be full of confidence having ridden here earlier in the evening. Don't dismiss him.

Key Runners to Watch Across the Card

17:30 — Maiden Hurdle: Park Hall and Jentobello

Jentobello (rated 113, Iain Jardine, Richie McLernon) is the highest-rated runner in the opener and carries the [C] flag — a course winner. Six years old and rated 113 in a maiden hurdle, you'd wonder why he hasn't won more, but Richie McLernon is a canny jockey who picks his moments, and Good ground over 2m 4f at a track he's already won at? This is a prime opportunity. He's my best bet of the opening race.

Park Hall (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) has no rating listed but the Skelton yard don't send horses to evening meetings for the craic — they send them to win. Watch the market on this one. If Harry Skelton fancies it, the money will talk.

Brosna Town (rated 107, Jessica Bedi, Conor Rabbitt) is interesting at 107 — that's a solid rating for this grade — and Conor Rabbitt has been quietly picking up winners. Worth a look each way at a price. Jessica Bedi also runs Credit Union alongside him, with Conor O'Farrell in the saddle — a yard running two in the same race often has a strong opinion about which one is the springer.

18:04 — Novices' Hurdle: Loriko Looks the Business

Four runners in the novices' hurdle and honestly, Loriko (rated 125, Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) looks like a penalty kick. Rated 125, top of the weights, and partnered by Harry Skelton — this is a class horse dropped into a small field. Eternal Angel (rated 120, Tom Lacey, Jonathan Burke) will make him work for it, but I'd be surprised if Loriko doesn't win this. The only danger is if Good ground doesn't suit — but 125-rated horses don't tend to flop in four-runner novice hurdles without a very good reason.

18:34 — Handicap Chase: My Friend Sean and Belle Le Grand

The 2m 1f handicap chase at 18:34 is a cracking little contest. Belle Le Grand (rated 104, Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) carries the [D] flag and is another Skelton runner — this yard could have a monster evening. My Friend Sean (rated 108, Tom Lacey, Jonathan Burke) heads the weights and is a quality jumper. Dog Fox (rated 102, Jack Tudor, Greenall & Guerriero) is one I'd keep onside too — Jack Tudor is a serious talent and this yard punch above their weight.

Eagle One (8yo, Twiston-Davies, Jamie Brace) is an interesting runner for the Twiston-Davies team — eight years old, no rating showing, but experience counts around here. Jamie Brace is a solid claimer who knows what he's doing.

19:34 — Class 5 Chase: The Clonmel Kid

Down in the Class 5 chase over 2m 5f, The Clonmel Kid (rated 100, Philip Kirby, Joe Williamson) heads the market on ratings. The name alone has my heart, being an Irishman. But sentiment aside, he's well-weighted and the trip suits. La Quarite (rated 91, Mickey Bowen, James Bowen) has the [D] flag and is worth considering at a bigger price.

20:04 — Closing Handicap Hurdle: Ashdown Forest Each Way

The card closes with a 10-runner Class 5 handicap hurdle and Ashdown Forest (rated 96, Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) catches the eye — a four-year-old from the Skelton yard, and if Harry is riding it in the last race of a card where he's already had winners, you'd want to be on it. No More Bolero (rated 104, James Owen, Harry Cobden) is the top-rated and has the [C] flag — Cobden is never far from a winner either. Jack Quinlan takes the ride on Ifyouhaveaplan in the opener — keep an eye on his book across the card, he's a jockey quietly building a fine record.

Going Analysis: Good Ground at Ludlow in August

Good ground in August is the great leveller in National Hunt racing. You won't get soft-ground plodders stealing a march, and you won't get lightning-fast ground that turns it into a sprint. What Good ground at Ludlow does is reward horses with genuine stamina, clean jumping and a proper engine. The undulating nature of this track means horses are always working, always using their hind-quarters, and any horse that's a bit one-paced or sloppy at the fences will be found out. Course and distance form is absolutely golden here — if a horse has won at Ludlow before, they know the track, they handle the undulations, and they've already proven they stay the trip. That's why Ballintubber Boy and Jentobello stand out so prominently to me tonight.

Tom's Best Bets Summary

  • NAP: Jentobello — 17:30 Maiden Hurdle. Highest-rated, course winner, Richie McLernon up. Tailor-made for this.
  • NEXT BEST: Ballintubber Boy — 19:04 Handicap Hurdle. Course AND distance winner, knows Ludlow inside out, each-way value.
  • EACH WAY: Kiwi de Cotte — 19:04 Handicap Hurdle. Skelton yard, course and distance form, could nick the place money at the very least.
  • WATCH: Loriko — 18:04 Novices' Hurdle. Should win this small field barring a mishap. Skelton/Skelton don't miss many of these.
  • LONGSHOT: La Quarite — 19:34 Class 5 Chase. Distance winner, James Bowen knows how to ride a waiting race, and the rating gives her a chance at a price.

Enjoy the evening racing, back your selections sensibly, and sure — if it all goes wrong, Ludlow is a lovely part of the world to be wrong in. Good luck!