Ludlow Placepot: Thursday 25th March

Daily Placepots / Timeform / 25 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Lady Herries should help us through the fifth leg.

Even Geoff Boycott's straight bat found the odd ball too good during his lengthy career as Yorkshire and England's premier gruff opener, and so it was that the self-styled 'Team All-Weather' found the ten-furlong maiden at Kempton yesterday unplayable despite taking two horses who between them accounted for more than 90% of the market. Never mind, we'll muddle through, battle on etc, and head back over jumps for the 'pottable' card at Ludlow.

"Murphy's Cardinal and Predateur are two who come with strong wealth warnings regardless of the grade, so the hunter is best left to Silver Adonis and Cedrus Libani"

The opening claiming hurdle features a whole host of horses who've thus far failed to take to timber, and it's fairly easy to get the aforementioned straight bat out and stick with Bundle Up and Vincenzio. The former has proved consistent when completing this season and plainly found conditions all against her last time; she should bounce back on this less testing ground. Vincenzio is by no means the most straightforward and, as a betting proposition as a whole, he's one to be wary of, but with blinkers, tongue strap and McCoy in place this afternoon, it's difficult to imagine him failing to run into a place.

A four-runner novice chase in which all can be given a chance of some kind will always pose a dilemma to anyone compiling a placepot. Nicky Henderson's First Point rates the most likely on the back of his good run in the totesport Trophy and, foolhardy though it may prove to be, we're going to bank on him so as to keep lines down.

Bobble Hat Bob is understandably favourite for the third leg on the back of an encouraging start to his handicap career at Kempton last month and needs including along with an interesting handicap debutant in the form of Moghaayer. He's failed to progress as might have been expected since making a winning start to his hurdling career, but he's been allotted a very workable mark as a consequence and it would be no surprise at all to see him making a significant impact upped in trip.

We'll plump for two of the quintet who go to post for the handicap chase, namely The Snail and Magnetic Pole. The former is enjoying a fantastic time of things and, for all he met with defeat last time, there's little reason to believe a mark of 117 should prove beyond him returning to fences. Magnetic Pole took well to cheekpieces a few seasons ago and has them in place for the first time since. He looks more likely to give his running than the out-of-form pair Arumun and Tyup Pompey, whilst Sou'wester has always seemed best at a bare two miles.

Lady Bling Bling rates an opposable favourite in the mares' novice hurdle under a double penalty, and she's worth taking on with Cloudy Spirit and Kokkokila. The former looks for all the world as if she'll be suited by the step up in trip, comments which should similarly apply to Kokkokila. She's yet to show all of which she's capable in this sphere, and her encouraging effort at Folkestone last time should have restored her confidence after being brought down at Huntingdon.

Murphy's Cardinal and Predateur are two who come with strong wealth warnings regardless of the grade, so the hunter is best left to Silver Adonis and Cedrus Libani. Dr Newland's nine-year-old has handicap form to his name as recently as last summer which should see him well up to making his mark in this company. Cedrus Libani has made a great start for new connections, winning a couple of points in December before making a successful hunter debut over course and distance last month and he has the assistance of the excellent Richard Burton in the saddle.

Selections: 32 lines

2.00 - 6, 10
2.30 - 1
3.00 - 2, 4
3.35 - 2, 5
4.10 - 3, 10
4.45 - 3, 4

To pick your own selections for the Ludlow Placepot you can download a racecard from timeform.com.