Don't Miss A Trick With Nancy At Ludlow

Going Concern went desperately close for the blog on Saturday and he likely traded very short in running given the way he travelled throughout the race. He flattered to deceive though, and once push came to shove he just didn't have enough left in the tank to go by the very gutsy winner. The handicapper will likely take a dim view of that excellent effort and another hike in the weights beckons.

The fare this week looks typically low on quality, though there are a couple of decent pots on offer at Ludlow tomorrow. The horse I am interested in goes in the novice hurdle at 3.10, and Nancy's Trix looks sure to be suited by the step up in trip and return to soft ground at Ludlow.

This 6yo daughter of Presenting has a lovely national hunt pedigree and her half brother Drumlister won his fair share of races for Arthur Moore back in the day. He was a point to point winner on soft and won on good ground under rules at trips ranging from 19f-22f. Her Old Vic dam is a half sister to listed and grade 3 winner Splendour, while their dam is a half sister to grade 1 hurdle winner Atone.

She is undoubtedly bred to be useful, and the manner of her point to point victory at The Pigeons suggests she has plenty of ability. The 2nd and 3rd home that day have both won points since, and she seemed to relish the soft underfoot conditions and the 24f trip, coasting home in dominant fashion 15l clear of the runner up.

She has had two starts under rules, both on good ground, and neither effort has been totally devoid of promise. She was sent off at just 7/1 in her only bumper run and faded into midfield after trying to make all. Her hurdle debut was a slightly better effort when she was upped to 19f at Doncaster, getting outpaced before staying on late for a well beaten 4th. That effort suggests the extra couple of furlongs will be a massive help.

She steps up to 21f tomorrow at Ludlow and she will be having her first rules run on soft ground. Now it is a very tricky looking race and a lot of the bigger yards are represented. The King horse in particular looks sure to be suited by the step up in trip too but she bombed out on her previous run on soft. The Skelton horse is also a short price but she has also yet to prove herself in testing conditions.

Her trainer, David Loder, isn't exactly a household name but he has trained a couple of winners from not many runners so he is capable of  readying one. Useful claimer Ciaran Gethings also takes off a handy 5lb and at her current odds of 33/1 she looks well worth chancing each way for small stakes in the hope that the soft ground and step up in trip work the oracle.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.10 LUDLOW NANCY'S TRIX E/W 33/1