Ladbroke Hurdle 2013

The last big meeting before the annual bonanza that is racing’s Christmas Period takes place at Ascot today with the Long Walk Hurdle (2.25) and the Ladbroke (3.35) the two big highlights before Boxing Day comes around.

The absence of Celestial Halo from the former event is big blow for the race on it’s own and also as a World Hurdle trial, given the big clash that looked to be developing between him and today’s hot favourite At Fishers Cross when last season’s top staying novice made a stopping error at the third last on his Newbury return when moving to tackle the long time leader. Given how Paul Nicholls’s charge didn’t stop it’s hard to say with any confidence which way the result would have gone (especially as At Fishers Cross didn’t look entirely happy for much of the race), but one presumes that he must be straighter to take his place here and while Reve De Sivola – who was beaten and retreating when At Fishers Cross made his mistake at Newbury - should enjoy this extremely testing ground, the best performance from At Fishers Cross has been on soft ground and he’d be our pick although the performance of Salubrious, who was the last man standing when giving Harry Derham a first Cheltenham Festival winner in March, is interesting in relation to his last time out conqueror More Than That, who  brushed aside the Paul Nicholls charge in fine style at Cheltenham in the Reelkeel Hurdle and is 10/1 for the World Hurdle.

 

The heavy ground will be music to the ears of Nicky Henderson, who’s two leading chances for the Ladbroke Hurdle both have wins on heavy to their name. Rolling Star and Chatterbox (left) are difficult to separate, with both having form that could arguably be called the best in the field, with Rolling Star one of the favourites for the Triumph before disappointing there and at Aintree after a ready win over Grade 2 winners Irish Saint, and Chatterbox having finished fourth in the Neptune at Cheltenham having beaten My Tent Or Yours Earlier in the season.

Rolling Star’s reappearance  win ay Haydock was more impressive than his stablemate’s second in the Gerry Fielden but given the large improvement made by Henderson inmates for their first runs this season big efforts can be expected by both, with Chatterbox taken to show the form he did last season.

Greatwood winner Dell’ Arca has to be taken seriously given that was his first run of the season and first run in the UK, while Willie Mullins’ City Slicker is 3-3 around right handed tracks and a most noteworthy raider from Cloustton in a race where any number could be realistically considered –topweight Pit Zig should stay better than most for one.

Advice

1 pt each/way Chatterbox, 3.35 Ascot (9/1 Bet365)