tracked leaders, challenging when not fluent 3 out, went right and led last, driven out
led, jumped right 3 out, joined 3 out, headed before last, stayed on
held up in rear, pushed along after 6th, outpaced by leading trio before 3 out, one pace
tracked leader until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, closed 7th, every chance before 3 out, unable to quicken, stayed on, held by front pair
held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, not fluent 6th, hit next, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, weakened after 7th, tailed off
HOLD COURT will have gone into many notebooks after winning by six lengths on his hurdling debut over 2m here last month. He was placed over 3m between the flags so the extra 5f today shouldn't be a problem and Evan Williams' charge can defy the penalty. Heronry, Jeano De Toulouse, Midnight Oscar and The Wee Lass are all bumper winners and Kim Bailey's five-year-old is possibly the most interesting of those today while Enter Paradise won over fences at Fakenham in February and was second in a novices' handicap hurdle at Aintree last month. He may lack the speed to get competitive over this trip on a sharp track like Ludlow however.
Hold Court (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 6th, led when not fluent last, ran on well, easily, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Drum Valley (10-12) by 6l, 14 ran.
Enter Paradise (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) With leader, led 2nd, driven approaching omitted 3 out, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Sixty Something (11-7) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Heronry (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Wilton Milan (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Jeano De Toulouse (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Led, headed over 4f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, well behind Ballincurrig (10-12) at Southwell 2m cond NH flat (6) sft in Apr.
Midnight Oscar (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, challenged over 3f out, soon led, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar beating Wychwoods Brook (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Push The Trigger 50-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, lost place approaching 7th, tailed off, 7th of 12, 42l behind Hollow Penny (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
The Wee Lass 12-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, in touch on outside, switched inside after 3rd, chased leader after 3 out until last, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Roseini (10-5) at Towcester 2m mares NH nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
