The Ladbroke 2011

3.35 Ascot

Ladbroke (Listed Handicap Hurdle) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)
Winner £84,405

Advice: 1 pt each/way Gibb River (9/1 Paddy Power, 8/1 general), Sailors Warn (10/1 Coral), Raya Star (10/1 general)

Brampour: Didn’t quite live up to his potential last season when disappointing at both festivals (based on reputation he had earned) but took advantage of good mark to win over C&D and then follow up in Greatwood Hurdle; Progressed once again to come solid third in Greatwood beind two class acts, a run that sees him now 9lbs well in here; Worry that he reappears just a week afterwards though.

Marsh Warbler: Made an excellent start to life over hurdles, upsetting some big reputations when landing the Grade One Finale Hurdle on soft ground at Chepstow (form worked out fairly decently) before finding the Supreme Novices too good for him; Encouraging return over jumps when second  to Champion Hurdle contender Grandouet and should enjoy cut in the ground, so can be given a good chance.

 

Via Gailei: Made very admirable progress over last few months, and once again ran a cracker when ahead of Radjahani Express and Gibb River at Sandown in competitive handicap hurdle last time, although he did have the advantage of a run over those two; These are his conditions so big showing no surprise, despite fact two key rivals now have a run under their belts.

Sailors Warn: Good in juvenile hurdles, winning Grade 2 with plenty to spare before coming respectable second (to Unacccompanied) in Grade 1 at Leopardstown before respectable sixth in the Triumph; Has come back in good form this season too, attempting to give weight and beating to Steps To Freedom at Punchestown while then finishing runner up to Unaccompanied again; Gets a solid weight for this task and has to be respected here.

Gibb River: Unbeaten in first thee over hurdles , winning under a penalty on two of those occasions; Didn’t show his best when well back in Supreme Novice Hurdle but excellent return when third in well contested handicap hurdle at Sandown, where he might have needed the run; Should go very well here.

Desert Cry: Showed benefit of experience when trashing 120 rated horse (who opposes today) at Sedgefield and good run in Grade 2 at Kelso; Not disgraced in much stronger company at the end of last season and good win latest, although whether that deserved a rise of 8lbs remains to be seen.

Prospect Wells: Decent flat horse (rated 99 on the level and that for a horse in decline); Made impressive winning debut having been keen throughout at Chepstow, before following that up with close Grade 2 second to Steps To Freedom and impressive Newbury win; No question that a good pace will suit and could be well ahead of his handicap mark, so must be at forefront of calculations for all there’s little to no appeal in his price.

Viva Colonia: Landed handicap hurdles at Cartmel and Wetherby before taking easy ground listed contest at Markest Rasen; Disappointed there when sent off favourite for a better race, but right back to his best when fast finishing fifth in Greatwood Hurdle; Worry that he might drop himself too far to be competitive on flatter track.

Radjahani Express: Useful in France, beating a subsequent UK winner by 10 lengths before losing his form; Nice seasonal/UK debut when fifth behind Via Gailei and Gibb River at Sandown, a race for which he should improve a lot; That said, others preferred this time round.

 

Tonic Melysse: Not reached heights that French form suggested he should, although he did win by 10 lengths at Ayr; Proved a disappointment when second at Cheltenham, and too long left when taking heavy fall at Warwick to judge how he’d have gone; Others have much less to prove.

Alarazi: Impressive when winning the Imperial Cup with plenty to spare over Via Gailei, before disappointing in County Hurdle; Two runs since respectable and not without possibilities, although others hold far stronger claims.

Abergavenny: Previously unbeaten over hurdles, 3 from 3 in weak novice hurdles (twice long odds on and never troubled much) before Greatwood third; Should go very well here off back of that and one of the more convincing runners.

Raya Star: So impressive on October return (admittedly with a May run under his belt) and ran into two very good horses when third in the Gerry Fielden Hurdle last time; A similar run (with a strong gallop, which is guaranteed here) could see him go very well here.

Act Of Kalanisi: Won similar event here on soft ground over 2m4f in soft ground in February; Will be sharpened up by his recent run in the Elite Hurdle, but worry some could prove too quick for him here and might be a little exposed compared to some.

Ciceron: Won pair of valuable Taunton handicaps before his form tailed off towards the end of last season; Hard to find much encouragement from his run this month and needs much more here.

Rigidity: Brought high class flat form to this sphere from his days with Henry Cecil and looked as if he was ready to go a long way when bolting up on hurdles debut for Edward O’Grady; Not gone on since and best left until certain revivial.

First Avenue: Given a nice ride to win at Leicester but couldn’t handle better competition and then well held behind a few of these at Sandown; Needs more than that to get involved here and attitude problems no help again.

VERDICT: The place to start is Prospect Wells, although a price of just 7/2 in such an event is a major putoff and frames the race for a good each/way bet. Brampour is very tempting on his improved form this season but is racing just a week after a hard race at Cheltenham in the International Hurdle, which tempers enthusiasm for his otherwise very strong chances.  GIBB RIVER’s third at Sandown was the effort of a well handicapped horse, and with plenty of improvement still to come for that run, he should make a bold bid. SAILORS WARN, sixth in the Triumph, appeals as being well treated on his efforts this year off 144, while RAYA STAR’s effort in the Gerry Fielden entitles him to some serious consideration if that form is taken literally.