FIFTH RACE 4.05

THE MORTIMER EQUINE VETS MARES’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 4)

TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS (2m 4f 11yds) for five yrs old and upwards mares

Total prize fund £12000 Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code £6337 to the winning horse The second to receive £2916, the third £1458, the fourth £729 and the fifth £363. for five yrs old and upwards mares only, Rated 0-120 (also open to such horses rated 121 and 122 - see Standard Conditions). £40 stake if the horse is rated 94 or higher, or £8 stake if the horse is rated 93 or lower with £32 extra if the horse is declared to run Declare by 10.00 a.m. May 12th. Penalties, after May 6th, 2023, for each steeple chase won 7lb MORTIMER EQUINE VETS have kindly contributed towards the prize money and will present a memento to the winning owner and award a cash prize to the stable employee responsible for the horse judged to be the best turned out in this race LUDLOW RACE CLUB will pay appearance money of £350 to the horses placed 6th, 7th and 8th in this race 13 entries at £40. - Closed May 8th, 2023 Owners Prize Money. Winner £4847; Second £2423; Third £1212; Fourth £606; Fifth £302. (Penalty Value £6337.20) Weights raised 3lbs and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable No Horse Age st lb

1 MARADA (GB) (24)

Ch m Martaline - Kerada (FR)

Owner: Little Lodge Farm & Dan Skelton

Trainer: Dan Skelton, Alcester

Breeder: R. D. & Mrs J. S. Chugg

8 12 0

Jockey: Bridget Andrews

Form: 12//0000-

Sponsor:The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire), Ladbrokes

TIMEFORM VIEW Progressed well over hurdles during 2020/21 as she won novices at Hereford and Huntingdon (twice) However, absent 22 months following that campaign and struggled to make an impact in 4 starts last season. Needs this switch to chasing to spark a revival.

2 MULBERRY HILL (IRE) (24)

Br m Califet (FR) - Massini Rose (IRE)

Owner: Dark Horse Racing Partnership Nine

Trainer: Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham

Breeder: Patrick Griffin

7 11 13

Jockey: Paddy Brennan

Form: 245160- D

115

Sponsor:MARTEN JULIAN PARTNERSHIP

TIMEFORM VIEW Doubled her tally on the back of a wind op at Carlisle in October and was possibly in need of the outing after 6 months off at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) 24 days ago. Previously placed in Irish points so that augurs well for this chasing debut.

3 WHATSDASTORY (IRE) (18)

B m Beneficial - Supreme Contender (IRE)

Owner: Plan B

Trainer: Dr Richard Newland, Droitwich

Breeder: Mary Walsh

Star RatingHHHHH Official BHA Rating 114

10 11 11

Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Form: R64222-

Sponsor:Tote

TIMEFORM VIEW Hereford winner (20.9f) in October and she comes here having hit the crossbar on each of her last 3 starts in small field mares’ handicaps. Entitled to be thereabouts again operating from a slightly lower mark.

112

4 LIME DROP (FR) (24)

Ch m Martaline - Lady Drop (FR)

Owner: Mrs Christine Graves

Trainer: Henry Daly, Ludlow

Breeder: Mr Patrick Fennessy

7 11 11

Jockey: Stan Sheppard

Form: 14/0200-

Sponsor:Humphrey Butler Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW Five-time winner in 2021/22 and back to form when runner-up at Newbury on New Year’s Eve. Not in the same form on both subsequent starts and the market can guide expectations now sent over the larger obstacles.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 112

5 OUR BILL’S AUNT (IRE) (29) 7 11 6

B m Blueprint (IRE) - Carrigmoorna Oak (IRE)

Owner: The 25 Club

Trainer: Alex Hales, Edgecote

Breeder: Michael Mescal

Jockey: Harry Bannister

Form: 2/13332-

Sponsor:Premier Plastering (UK) Limited

TIMEFORM VIEW Made a successful handicap debut after 7 months off in ready fashion at Chepstow in November and ran well with the benefit of the run of things when runner-up back there (23.6f, good to soft) a month ago A winning pointer, she’s impossible to dismiss now chasing.

Star RatingHHHHI Official BHA Rating 107

6 MAID ON THE MOON (GB) (94)

B m Pether’s Moon (IRE) - Handmaid

Owner: The Burling Family Ltd

Trainer: Alan King, Barbury Castle

Breeder: The Burling Family Ltd

6

Jockey: Harry Cobden

Form: 13/0302- D

10 13

Sponsor:The Burling Family Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW Sole success came at Huntingdon 14 months ago. Best effort in handicaps last term when runner-up at Doncaster (19.4f, good) 3 months ago (unlucky to bump into one so far ahead of their mark) and booking of Cobden is a positive for this chasing bow.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 100

7 LOST CONNECTIONS (IRE) (24) 7 10

B m Dylan Thomas (IRE) - Mini Shan (IRE)

Owner: Peter Hearn & David Lipsey

Trainer: Katy Price, Llanigon

Breeder: Leonard Flynn

13

Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

Form: 042453-

Sponsor:Tote

TIMEFORM VIEW Still looking for first success after 8 attempts (tried over a variety of trips) but fared about as well as could have been expected from 19lb out of the handicap after 4 months off when third at Cheltenham (16.3f, good) last month.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 100

DECLARED RUNNERS 7 2022: REINE FEE (IRE) 9 11 12 David Noonan 11-2 (Henry Oliver) 5 ran

Blinkers worn by No 3. Tongue Strap worn by No 2, 7.

Betting Forecast:

9-2 Our Bill’s Aunt (IRE), 5-1 Maid On The Moon (GB), 11-2 Mulberry Hill (IRE), Lost Connections (IRE), 6-1 Marada (GB), 13-2 Whatsdastory (IRE), 8-1 Lime Drop (FR)

Race Summary:

PLAY SMARTER

Tough to be bullish with the majority making their chasing debuts, MULBERRY HILL selected to make a winning start in this sphere having previously been placed in a couple of Irish points in 2021 and Fergal O’Brien’s charge should step up on her recent Cheltenham outing after 6 months off Our Bill’s Aunt won her sole start in points, so she’s put forward as the main threat, ahead of the experienced Whatsdastory

Theresult

Shuttle Bus

The complimentary Shuttle Bus will collect from Ludlow Train Station at 12.15pm. The Shuttle Bus will then leave Ludlow at 5.35pm after racing

Richard Davis Award

For the Top Conditional Jockey riding at Cheltenham, Chepstow, Hereford, Ludlow, Stratford, Warwick and Worcester

Final Placings for the 2022 - 2023 season

(Sponsored by the Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club)

Scoring: a Winner 10 points, a Second 7 points, a Third 4 points, a Fourth 2 points

Richard Davis was a talented jump jockey tragically killed in a fall over fences in 1996. This award is named in his memory.