One of the biggest betting heats in the pre-Christmas NH season, The Ladbroke is run over 2 miles at Ascot and is typically won by a well handicapped horse who has been laid out for the race. Recent winners include Cause Of Causes, Raya Star, Sentry Duty, Jack The Giant, Acambo, Desert Air and good old Tamarinbleu. In that list alone we have 3 winners for the Pipes and 2 for Mr Henderson, so we can see who likes to target the race. There are 27 left in at the moment with top weight of 11-12 currently allotted to Paul Nicholls P'tit Zig (official rating 151). Just 1lb lower sit stablemate Sametegal and Mr Henderson's Rolling Star, last seen staying on strongly at Haydock to land a 25K intermediate hurdle. With Henderson (Rolling Star, Chatterbox, Snake Eyes) and Pipe (Shotavodka, Ronaldo Des Motte, Waterunder, Dell 'Arca, Swing Bowler, Dan Breen) having such good recent records it is probably worth concentrating on their charges. Of the Henderson trio, we will clearly be steered by which mount Barry Geraghty chooses, but Chatterbox makes most appeal at this stage. He made an encouraging seasonal debut when trying to give weight to some nice sorts including Ifandbutwhynot (who gives him a form tie with plenty of these from the Greatwood Hurdle) and should come on plenty for that. Prior to that Chatterbox was 13 lengths 4th to The New One in the Neptune - form not bad in itself but I also think he didn't see out the trip that day. David Pipe has 6 entered at the moment and the one I like most is Swing Bowler, who ran an absolute cracker to chase home My Tent Or Yours in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. She was never really going at Cheltenham thereafter and I would put that down to the track and possibly being over the top. She comes here off 136 and has a nice racing weight of 10-10. I think she can have a really good season this time round, has hopefully filled out a bit over the summer and should go well here. One who could outrun his odds at a big price is Charlie Longsdon's Vulcanite who may now be able to forget his abortive chasing career and take advantage of what is still a decent hurdles mark.
A fair few will lock horns again after battling in the Greatwood. Dell' Arca won quite impressively that day, with a bit in hand I think, should have a fair amount of scope too on his first run in England under David Pipe. He is up 8lbs for that win, which may prove difficult to defy. One i like from that same race is Pine Creek, not a brilliant jumping round, hampered early on, not tried with all that much in the run in. I think there could be more from him so I will plump for him at an each way price (best price 18s atm)
It's likely that this will be the SSCC race this weekend and as I have to try to fend off Chan, maybe I should keep schtum ............ ........ but I can't! Pine Creek is one from my tracker and I also thought that he would do much better next time out
Reebs I've narrowed it down to about 12. Won't be picking that one you like though. Flaxen Flare maybe?
Snake eyes will be a Henderson plot i reckon. Fancy prices aswell as i reckon Geraghty will be on Chatterbox at the same weight to Rolling Star(i doubt all 3 will line up)
Recession Proof is a real interesting runner in this to me. Has a real nice racing weight and if you go back a few seasons finished behind the likes of Al Ferof and Sprinter Sacre no less in the Supreme. Top top form... Interesting jockey booking too. Last run was over 3 miles (never gonna be his trip) and now lines up at 2 miles and has had 2 previous flat runs where he has not shown a great deal . Wears blinkers for the first time here i believe.. Currently you can get 25/1. Not sure if any will go 5 places on the day but this could be an outstanding each way bet. I am getting some good vibes from this. There's been some big priced winners of this race too.. ground I anticipate being soft at least and this horse can win in those conditions having previously won in heavy. I also like Swing Bowler. I remember the horse finishing behind My Tent or Yours at Newbury last season and ran an awesome race. Will be interesting to see the jockey booking for her. She can run a big race too.. These two would be a bit topical too... what with our dismal performance in the Ashes thats what we need is a good swing bowler and all this talk of late of a recovery perhaps people are now saying we are recession proof! Just a few silly thoughts i know...........
