GYTO Wednesday Notebook Double

It was every yard a winning one for PATIENT DREAM at Market Rasen earlier this month and similar tactics may well be deployed at Ludlow on Wednesday. 10lb claimer William Maggs maintains the partnership and up 6lb with the headgear retained he could prove hard to reel in. Kingfast is a hard horse to assess but has a monster layoff to overcome so the betting will likely prove informative to his chance.

Unless heavily punted I don’t think I’d be too concerned as he hasn’t shown much over hurdles so far. John Betjeman didn’t run badly when last seen at Wincanton and might be the one to chase the selection home but he doesn’t find winning easy. Balgowan was only fourth at Fakenham last month but the winner is a nice type and it is still early days for him now going handicapping over hurdles.

I think FLEURMAN deserves to be favourite for this. He did really well to win at Wolverhampton last time as they went no gallop early. Turning in I thought he was in trouble but he really picked up well in the closing stages and was nicely on top at the line. He was a brutal drifter in the betting on the day so was clearly expected to come on for it but still managed to get his head in front.

I think he is sure to improve given he is unexposed as a stayer and he should be hitting the line hard under Kevin Stott. Quercus Robur is definitely a danger having won twice over C&D this season. He was held off this mark when third at Southwell last time though so is going to need to find more but is still respected. First Emperor is eyeing up a hat-trick but the handicapper applies more pressure now nudging him up a further 5lb so this tougher.