TimeformBlog

Two of today's SmartPlays come from Ludlow, and first up from the Shropshire venue is The Chazer (13:10) trained by Richard Lee. A winner over hurdles at Newbury last season, The Chazer had the misfortune to come up against this year's Champion Hurdle runner-up and current ante-post Arkle favourite Peddlers Cross on his chase debut at Bangor last month. Although flattered to get so close to the facile winner, (beaten four-and-a-half lengths) it was a promising introduction to fencing from The Chazer and the handicapper may have been a tad generous by leaving his official rating unchanged on a mark of 121. Placed in points earlier in his career the six-year-old looks the type to make a better chaser, and can start proving that point this afternoon.

Alan King has his team in tremendous heart at present with nine winners in the past two weeks, and Like A Hurricane (13:50) is fancied to chalk up another victory for the yard by making a winning chase debut at Taunton. This son of Simply Great was a winner of a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot last October, and although not at his best in two subsequent outings, the trip appeared to stretch his stamina back at Ascot in April and better can be expected now down in distance for this seasonal return. A particular feature of the stable's recent run has been their success with novice chasers as the likes of Walkon, Kumbeshwar and Invictus have all obliged of late, and Like A Hurricane can add his name to that list by taking this novice handicap chase.

Historically, December has been the month where the Venetia Williams string have tended to hit form, and after knocking on the door so far this month Ceannline (14:10) can get the ball rolling for the Herefordshire trainer this time around. A useful performer when winning twice on the Flat for Jim Bolger in Ireland, Ceannline has been brought along steadily over hurdles so far, but very much caught the eye when making good late headway in a mares' novice event at Lingfield last month. Now stepping into handicap company for the first time, Ceannline is able to race off a mark of 92 which compares very favourably to her Flat mark of 87. With the strong possibility of more to come now entering handicaps, Ceannline should be well capable of winning races off this sort of mark.

Back The Chazer @ 4.1 Ludlow 13:10
Back Like A Hurricane @ 5.1 Taunton 13:50
Back Ceannline @ 3.2 Ludlow 14:10

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