17:00 First of all apologies for the delay in updating the details of the last two races, this is due to a failure of the wi-fi at Ludlow. In addition the backup system was unable to find a signal - isn't technology great?
That's all from Ludlow a chilly afternoon and to be honest not too competitive a meeting. Our next live coverage is from Kempton, over the sticks, on Wednesday.
From a chilly Shropshire good evening.
16:00 A bumper to finish off proceedings and the again the field came home strung out like the washing, which is a bit of a surprise as we have pretty good ground here.
They say experience counts in bumpers and it proved to be the case today and it proved to be good news for Hen Knight, as the ex-Irish point winner Cross Kennon ran on really well to beat Seraphim Knight who looked the winner turning for home. Winning by an easy nine lengths.
The latter having taken the lead from the long time leader Priors Coppice.
Needless to say the first three home were those with experience but as I have often said bumpers are no races for betting.
Of the debutants Ruttan Lake made some headway to take fourth but nothing else really caught the eye, and to throw a spanner in the previous form theory former point winner Cousin John finished stone last.
15:37 I have a fear the exciting finish in the last may have been the highlight of the afternoon as our final hurdle turned out to be another procession.
Foxriver and Linlithgow were the pacesetter and, for the first circuit, the field were well bunched.
Charlie Poole came and joined the fun up front as they set off down the back straight for the final time.
However as they turned for home the whole complexion of the race had changed as joint favourite Little Shilling had run on from mid-division to take a good lead from his rivals with fellow joint favourite Orchard House in pursuit.
And that about sums up the remainder of the race as they processed down the home straight.
Approaching the line Little Shilling was heavily eased so the winning margin of 8 lengths is meaningless as he was good for double that distance.
The third placed horse, Simple Glory, was a further 13 lengths behind the first two.
15:04 Another 2½ mile chase and Mr McCoy at his absolute best riding the perfect tactical race on the favourite Kia Kaha.
Sam Thomas attempted to make amends for a bad weekend by setting the pace on Muhtenbar and he held the lead until approaching the last.
McCoy on the other hand settled the favourite at the back, before making progress as they turned for home. By the second last he was on Muhtenbar’s quarters but for anyone watching the question was when, not if, he would run on and take the lead without even breaking sweat.
The official winning distance of 3½ lengths does not do the winner justice, Muhtenbar took second, ten lengths ahead of Order De Bataille in third.
14:37 Well after a couple of convincing wins our second chase of the afternoon produced a bobbing finish in which both the runners did their best to throw it away at the last.
Favourite Opera De Coeur and Our Jasper had shared the lead throughout and were locked together at the second last when the favourite made a mistake but luckily maintained his momentum.
The approached the last like Siamese twins but both blundered through the top.
A really dour battle ensued along the run-in with Richard Johnson on the favourite just beating AP McCoy on the bob – methinks Mr McCoy would not have enjoyed that one.
Picot De Say finished a tired third.
14:03 An eight runner selling hurdle for our third event but only hour finished in what ended up as a procerssion.
Diva’s Brother was the hare and henry Daly’s gelding set a good pace before dropping out of contention like a stone half way down the back straight.
Oscarvail was to the fore and had the lead with Silver Blue once Diva’s Brother had thrown in the towel.
Tracking the pair were the top two in the betting Mulaazem and Idarah. With the latter looking the fresher of the pair.
Three out the grey Idarah was jumped into the lead by Jamie Moore, running on for a convincing 23 length victory, ahead of the jolly Mulaazem.
Oscarvail was a further 13 lengths back in third with, Risk Challenger the only other finisher.
Silver Blue took a tired fall at the third last, the remainder all pulled up.
In a very lively auction the winner was bought in for 11,500 guineas.
There was also a big bet, by Ludlow standards, of £3,500 at 3/1 on the winner.
13:35 A three mile chase for our second contest and we saw another failed attempt at pillar to post run in the form of Heather Dalton’s Breiz Dream’s, whose lead lasted for 15 fences before fading quickly.
Midnight Gold, who had been tracking the leader from the start took up the running but just behind Robert Butler was coming on Cresswell Willow with eye catching progress.
By the second last she was alongside the leader but a bold jump put him in front and the mare was never challenged.
Midnight Folly held on to take second from Down’s Folly, another running on towards the end.
There was a good battle for fourth with Seize just grabbing fourth but it was bad news for backers as the late withdrawal of Sea Wall left us with 15 runners and no fourth place each way pay out – I’m not bitter.
The only faller was Downing Street who too a tired fall at the last but was OK.
13:05 A Novices’ Hurdle to get us underway and I forget to mention we have a bitterly cold wind here at Ludlow today.
Burnswood, ridden by champ AP McCoy set the early pace although by the time they passed the post first time the lead had been ceded to Balthazar King.
Coming out of the back straight it was still a very open race with Balthazar King, Illogical Hope and Tragic Realm all in with a strong chance.
However Tragic Realm soon jumped into the lead at the third last and the Evan Williams trained gelding ran on well, winning eased on the line. A former Irish Pointer he impressed with his jumping on his hurdling debut.
Quidonc ran on to take second with Minella Run a very eye catching third, running on with some purpose.
Arctic Ben ran very wide on the home turn, almost cocking his jaw and soon faded badly thereafter.
12:30 Good afternoon from Ludlow where the weather is sunny and the going is Good to Soft, good in places.
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Non-Runners
1:20
8 Sea Wall
2:25
8 Ping Pong Sivola (Tied up SC)
3:25
9 Bite Un Fight (Coughing SC)
13 Miss Merenda
14 Colonial Jim (not eaten up)
Results
12:50
1st 8 Tragic Realm 12/1
2nd 7 Quidonic 15/8 fav
3rd 6 Minella Theatre 7/1
9 Ran
Distances 14 & 3
Fav second
Tote
Win £11.00
Place £2.10 £1.30 £2.10
Exacta £37.60
CSF £35.38
Time 5' 27.3"
1:20
1st 7 Cresswell Willow 33/1
2nd 5 Midnight Gold 10/1
3rd 2 Down's Folly 9/1
15 Ran WD 8
Distances 2 1/2 & 3/4
Fav 16 Seize 7/2 (4th)
Tote
Win £38.10
Place £9.80 £4.00 £3.90
Exacta £306.30
CSF £333.17
Tricast £3,242.62
Time 6' 24.7"
1:50
1st 2 Idarah 5/2
2nd 5 Mulaazem 2/1 fav
3rd 8 Oscarvail 7/2
8 Ran
Distances 23 & 13
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.90 £1.10 £1.50
Exacta £11.20
CSF £7.80
Time 3' 56.3"
2:25
1st 3 Opera De Coeur 10/3 fav
2nd 2 Our Jasper 7/1
7 Ran NR 8
Distances head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.00
Place £2.60 £4.40
Exacta £27.90
CSF £25.20
Tricast £84.83
Time 5' 22.72"
2:55
1st 2 Kia Kaha 9/4 fav
2nd 3 Muhtenbar 20/1
3rd 4 Ordre De Bataille 4/1
8 Ran
Distances 3 1/2 & 10
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.00
Place £1.20 £5.40 £2.50
Exacta £47.50
CSF £41.03
Time 5' 26.0"
3:25
1st 11 Little Shilling 9/4 jf
2nd 10 Orchard House 9/4 jf
3rd 6 Simple Glory 16/1
14 Ran Nr's 9 & 14
Distances 8 & 13
Fav winner & second
Tote
Win £5.10
Place £1.70 £1.50 £3.20
Exacta £10.10
CSF £7.36
Tricast £66.25
Time 6' 13.00"
3:55
1st 5 Cross Kennon 4/1
2nd 12 Seraphim Knight 4/1
3rd 10 Priors Coppice 10/3 fav
16 Ran
Distances 9 & 3/4
Fav third
Tote
Win £5.60
Place £1.60 £2.00 £1.20
Exacta £27.90
CSF £19.88
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