A Proper Sunday Afternoon's Entertainment
Sweet Jesus, what a card Ludlow served up on Sunday afternoon! While the prize money might not have been setting the world alight, the quality of racing more than made up for it. Good ground with just enough give in places made for proper jumping conditions, and by God did we see some performances that'll have the notebook working overtime.
Six races spanning from maidens to handicaps, with a bumper thrown in for good measure – it's exactly the sort of bread-and-butter National Hunt fare that separates the wheat from the chaff. And let me tell you, there was plenty of both on show at this Shropshire gem.
The Feature Race: Novices' Chase Delivers the Goods
The Ludlow racecard headliner was undoubtedly that Class 4 novices' chase over two miles and seven furlongs, and what a cracking little contest it shaped up to be. Four runners might seem modest, but when you've got horses rated between 97 and 109, you know you're in for a proper scrap.
Dangerous Touch carried the top rating of 109 with Tom Hutsby doing the steering, and you'd have been brave to oppose him on paper. But racing isn't played out on paper, is it? The French import Achille des Rocs looked the progressive sort for Danny McMenamin, while Ballynaheer under Charlie Maggs had that lovely 'improving novice' look about him.
The one that caught my eye though was Rodney Bay at the foot of the weights. Harry Reed in the saddle and a rating of just 97 – sometimes these lightly-raced novices can find bundles of improvement when stepped up in trip. Mark that name down, because I've a feeling we haven't seen the best of him yet.
Maiden Hurdle Throws Up Future Stars
Now, the opening maiden hurdle might have been light on numbers after Pertemps pulled out, but quality over quantity was the order of the day. Tread Carefully with Sam Twiston-Davies aboard looked the part with a rating of 116 – that's proper form for a maiden, and suggests this one has been knocking on the door.
But here's where it gets interesting: Emerald Breeze under Toby McCain-Mitchell might have been rated 3lb lower, but there's something about a horse making their debut for new connections that gets the old antennae twitching. These unraced sorts can improve in leaps and bounds once they get their jumping education sorted.
The three unrated runners – Ade Boy, Destination Unkown (and yes, that spelling caught my eye too), and Exiguus – were the wildcards. In maiden company, you never know when one of these newcomers might have a bit of class tucked away.
Handicap Hurdles: Where the Value Lies
The two handicap hurdles on the card were absolute gold mines for future reference. That Class 5 novices' limited handicap over the extended two and a half miles had Fine As Wine at the head of affairs with Benjamin Macey, but it was further down the field where the real interest lay.
Gms Prince caught the eye – Robert Dunne knows his way around these sorts, and off a mark of 88, there could be a bit of room for manoeuvre there. The 'C' next to his name suggests he's been consistent without winning, which often means the handicapper hasn't been too harsh.
In the later handicap hurdle, Kalkaroo with Sam Twiston-Davies was the one that had me reaching for the pen. The 'C,D' markings tell their own story – consistent and a course winner. At Ludlow, that local knowledge can be worth its weight in gold.
The Bumper: Future Chasers in the Making
That closing National Hunt Flat race was a proper lucky dip with seven unrated runners, but these bumpers are where tomorrow's stars cut their teeth. Black Eddy with James Bowen was worth a second look – Bowen doesn't often rock up to Ludlow for no-hopers, and the booking suggested confidence.
Buck Whaley under Jack Hogan had that lovely Irish name that often translates to ability over the sticks, while Kildare d'Irlande with Rian Corcoran looked another with proper National Hunt breeding behind him.
These bumper horses are the ones to file away for when they go jumping proper. A good showing here often translates to success over hurdles six months down the line.
Looking Ahead: Where Next for These Gems?
The beauty of a card like this is that you're watching horses at various stages of their development. The novice chasers will likely step up in class – perhaps Cheltenham or Kempton for the better ones, while the handicappers will be targeting similar contests at tracks like Worcester or Hereford.
Keep a close eye on anything that ran well here but didn't win – Ludlow form often works out brilliantly when these horses drop back in grade or find their optimum conditions. The going was just on the easier side of good, so any that struggled might be worth following when the ground gets properly testing.
Sunday at Ludlow reminded us why these smaller tracks are the lifeblood of National Hunt racing. Proper jumping, competitive racing, and plenty of horses to follow – what more could you want from an afternoon's sport? Get these names in your tracker, because I'll bet good money we'll be seeing them pop up as winners before the season's out.
