Ludlow Preview – Friday (06/01/23)

Katie Midwinter (05/01/23)

Following an exceptionally busy festival period, in which racing fans were spoilt for choice with the action, there is only one jumps meeting scheduled to take place across Britain and Ireland on Friday (6th of January).

Ludlow hosts a seven-race card and there are some horses worth keeping an eye on as they line up at the Shropshire track. 

A new recruit for Venetia Williams, FIRE DANCER makes his debut for the yard (2:00pm) having recently made the switch from Guillaume Macaire in France. He has been absent since October 2020, when finishing second in a conditions chase at Fontainebleau and did have a wind operation in November.

It would be quite a feat to make a winning return on British debut following such a lengthy layoff, but he runs in the familiar Ricci colours and is an exciting prospect. On debut at Compiegne he beat Capodanno, now a Grade One winner based with Willie Mullins. The gelding clearly possesses plenty of class and he’ll be an interesting horse to follow. 

In the 3m1½f Handicap Chase (3:00pm), six runners are set to go to post with Kim Bailey’s Wandrin Star heading the field. Rated 133, the veteran Flemensfirth gelding has failed to complete his last two racecourse appearances, and has been dropped a total of 6lbs as a result.

He is now 3lbs lower than his last winning mark and did show he still possesses ability when second to the 140-rated Elegant Escape in March.

Eight-year-old mare Little River Bray represents an out of form Philip Hobbs yard. She was victorious when last appearing at the track and is capable of further improvement, but is another contender who was pulled-up when last seen.

Ree Okka is the likeliest favourite, a seven-year-old who could be a progressive type for Harry Fry, stepping back up in trip. The yard is in good form, recording a 26% win rate in the past two weeks and there could be plenty more to come from this lightly-raced gelding.

One to consider is the elder HEAD TO THE STARS, a veteran chaser who often runs well at this track. He won twice at Ludlow in 2021, before finishing second to Java Point last March.

His last run here was less impressive but perhaps came too quickly following his previous race, and he’s likely to be fresh for this having not completed a race since May. He lined up at Ascot in November but unseated his rider at the third.

Trainer Henry Daly has been in fine form of late, performing at a 31% strike rate, and with plenty of his beaten runners finishing amongst the places. This 132-rated Kayf Tara gelding isn’t getting any younger, but there could still be another big run to come from him and he could be slightly overpriced in such a small field.

The penultimate race on the card is an interesting 3m hurdle contest (3:30pm). Sam Thomas’ Jubilee Express is set to go off as favourite as he steps up in trip, but has also been declared at Wincanton on Saturday.

He made a winning start to his hurdling career with success at Hereford last season, before being narrowly held on return at Lingfield. He was beaten by Mister Who who was pulled-up at Uttoxeter over the festive period but had previously finished ahead of recent winner Lord Snootie when the pair met at Fontwell. 

An interesting contender in the field is MY BOBBY DAZZLER who finished seventh in a Grade One at Aintree last season, before being pulled up on reappearance at the track in October. He was too free when carrying top weight of 12st and is worth forgiving for that run, now 1lbs lower.

In the past he has run fairly well off a higher mark and was fourth at Cheltenham a year ago, two-lengths behind third-placed Botox Has before finishing third in a Grade Two at Doncaster behind winner Mahler Mission and runner-up The Real Whacker.

This is a drop down in class and he should be good enough to be competitive at a decent each-way price. He has form closely matched with horses who are performing well in higher class races, and benefits from claimer Alex Edwards taking 3lbs off his racing weight here.

LUDLOW:

2:00pm – Fire Dancer 7/4 – Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch

3:00pm – Head To The Stars 18/1 – Henry Daly, Richard Patrick

3:30pm – My Bobby Dazzler 12/1 – Mel Rowley, Alex Edwards (3)