BALLYWOOD PRIMED FOR LUDLOW
Alan King looks to have found a good opportunity for Ballywood to bag a good prize by way of the Bromfield Sand & Gravel Handicap Chase at Ludlow tomorrow.
The five-year-old has not had that much racing since joining King from France, but has done little wrong.
He has bumped into one or two above-average performers along the way too, most notably Dynamite Dollars last time out at Doncaster.
While he was ultimately no match for the Paul Nicholls-trained hotpot - who was a leading fancy for the Arkle until meeting with a setback - he showed up well until the favourite asserted.
Interestingly, his first try over fences for King had resulted in victory over another Nicholls runner in Capeland, who was thought good enough to be supplemented for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
The talk after Doncaster had been of a potential trip to Cheltenham and the Grand Annual for Ballywood, but the decision not to go to the Festival promises to be rewarded.
Hes No Trouble has a leading chance in the Shropshire Homes Novices’ Hurdle.
The Kim Bailey-trained six-year-old made a respectable debut in a hot race won by Birchdale at Warwick in December, and confirmed himself useful when making no mistake next time out at Huntingdon.
Making all, he jumped well - and while a mistake from the favourite at the last helped matters, it was undoubtedly another step in the right direction.
As a point-to-point winner in Ireland before joining Bailey, he should be seen to even better effect now he moves up in trip.
Dan Skelton continues to rattle in the winners, and Gortroe Joe can add to his tally in the Alfa Aggregate Products Chase.
He has had mixed fortunes since going chasing, showing promise first time out at Ascot, before falling here in January.
The seven-year-old made no mistake next time out, though, returning to the Shropshire track to get his head in front - albeit in a race that did fall apart a bit.
With that experience under his belt, there should be more to come.
Skelton is set for a good day, with Falcon Sun the one to beat in the Ludlow Farm Handicap Hurdle.
He went to Newbury at the beginning of the month in search of a hat-trick after a couple of wins at Leicester and was still well in it when crashing out with three to jump.
Assuming that has not left its mark, he looks one to keep on the right side for now.
Not So Sleepy got up and running over obstacles last time out, and should make his presence felt in the Windsor Clive International Novices’ Hurdle.
A 96-rated performer on the Flat, he did not really give himself a chance on his hurdling bow, because he was too keen, but he bowled along from the front after that at Wincanton - and that did the trick as he accounted for the odds-on Collooney.
Speed is his main asset, so a fairly dry forecast is to his advantage.
Wonderful Charm is very hard to oppose in the Eric Roper 90th Celebration Open Hunters’ Chase, while Weapons Out is the pick in the G C Rickards Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Keith Dalgleish has a couple of good chances at Sedgefield, led by I’m To Blame in the MansionBet Your Favourite Place To Bet Handicap Hurdle.
How far the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned sixyear-old can go will only be known when he tests the waters further south at some stage, but as yet he has met with defeat just once and is on the up.