3.40pm Ludlow Tips & Betting Preview 28/11/2016

An intriguing bumper to round off the card today and £3,249 up for grabs to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: A few unknowns in this with Highway Star and Oscar’s Song respected from their all-powerful stables and they will be well-tuned for this on debut. Chez Castel Mail will improve for his debut run and the form from that race has been boosted since but the vote goes to Ben Pauling’s WAY BACK THEN, who ran impressively in a Point in Ireland back in February and looks a likely type for his yard that do so well in this sphere.

1 Chez Castel Mail – Runner-up on debut at Market Rasen on debut, going down a head behind an odds-on shot from Peter Bowen’s yard. The 3^rd in that race has given the form a boost by winning since and looks to have a good chance in this.

2 Court Duty – Gelding by Court Cave. Dam was lightly raced in points and is a half-sister to the useful Hurdler The Shepherd King. One to watch in the betting for a yard that does well in this sphere and that remain in good form but should come on for the run and others preferred.

3 Crucial Role – Gedling by Westerner. Dam was a Hurdle/Chase winner up to 3m/3¼ m. Bred to get further over time and best watched on debut for Henry Daly.

4 Dennis Our Menace – Was a runner-up in sole start over points on debut in April and first ever bumper runner for the yard today. Yard had a winner last week at Towcester and market will no likely guide as to expectations here.

5 Highway Star –  Vision D’Etat Gelding who cost 50,000 Euros. Half-brother to 2 winners including smart Hurdler. Likely to prove popular in the betting for trainer that has an excellent record in these types of races.

6 Our Delboy – Half-brother to 3 winners and including Our Mick and the fairly useful Hurdler/Chaser Our Jasper. Betting will guide on debut but pedigree not overly appealing and others preferred unless the market speaks in his favour.

7 Sidsteel – Came last on debut over this C&D in March and hard to fancy chances here based on that with improvement looking unlikely.

8 Way Back Then – Finished runner-up in an Irish Maiden Point in February shaping well that day. Has joined Ben Pauling who has a 21% strike-rate in Bumpers and will likely go close for an in-form yard. Big player.

9 Whispering Clock – Kayf Tara Gelding who was 5^th of 8 on Towcester debut recently finishing 13 lengths off the winner that day. Will to need to improve considerably to get involved here and best watched for now.

10 Another Nudge – Three starts so far this year and 5^th of 7 at Fontwell on her last start is the best form on offer. Will need a career-best to trouble these and that looks unlikely.

11 La Madrina – Filly by Milan. Dam was unraced and a half-sister to smart Bumper winner and smart Hurdler up to 21f Dunguib. Yard has a poor strike-rate in these events in the last 5 seasons and hard to fancy here.

12 Oscar’s Song – Mare by Oscar who cost 20,000 Euros as a 4-y-o. Related to useful Hurdler/Chaser King’s Daughter. Yard does well in these events and Richard Johnson on board today so hopes will be high for a winning introduction. Solid credentials.