Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action and all three are running at Ludlow.
13:00 Ludlow
The Phil McBride trained POKER MASTER (best priced at 3-1) sprung a surprise last time at Huntingdon when sent off 25/1 and he should hold strong claims under a 7lb penalty. The five-year-old had been beaten 73 lengths, 95 lengths and pulled up on his previous three starts over hurdles before winning easily at Huntingdon a week ago.
Poker Master was always travelling well throughout that contest and ended up beating the 1/4 favourite Manucci by seven lengths at the finish under Tom Buckley. The handicapper has raised the gelding 10lbs for that victory up to a mark of 94 but instead he runs here off a mark of 80 under a 7lb penalty. That effectively means that he runs here 7lb “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat if replicating that form.
14:00 Ludlow
All four in this race are in with a chance but preference goes to the Tom George trained KAKAMORA (best priced at 4-1). The seven-year-old is yet to win over fences so far in his three runs but the form of his two previous starts are working out well. He finished 3rd behind Mackenberg (who has won twice including off an 11lb higher mark) at Musselburgh before finishing 3rd last time at Wincanton behind Dorking Lad (who won next time and is now rated 13lbs higher) and Flagrant Delitiep (who won by 12 lengths off a 2lb higher mark yesterday).
The handicapper has dropped Kakamora 1lb for that run down to a mark of 122 and he should run well off bottom weight.
15:00 Ludlow
The Henry Daly trained HEAD TO THE STARS (best priced at 7-2) has won this race for the previous two years and he should hold strong claims of completing a hat-trick of wins in this race. The eleven-year-old won this race off a mark of 126 in 2020 before winning again last year off a mark of 125.
Head To The Stars ran well at Wincanton on his reappearance before winning over this course and distance in December off a mark of 129. The handicapper raised him 4lbs for that 3 length victory up to a mark of 133 where he ran with credit in the Classic Chase at Warwick and he sights are now lowered back into this Class 3 contest. He runs here off a mark of 132 which makes it more difficult for the veteran but connections will have him primed for this race and hopefully he can complete the hat-trick.
