The Ladbroke Hurdle is one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season and a massive 27 horses were declared at the six-day stage. With multiple entries from several of the top stables, this looks a bit of a minefield to untangle.
Paul Nicholls has the two top weights in Ptit Zig and Sametegal plus Irish Saint who was considered a high class novice. As a rule, I don’t like backing top weights in races such as this. They need to be Champion Hurdle class to win off anything over 11st 7lb and I don’t think there is anything of that calibre here.
Sametegal ran a game race when only beaten half a length by Dell Arca in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. He looked as though he may even win jumping the last but was just run out of it in the closing stages. Both horses have gone up in the handicap and there should be little between them but you have to favour the Pipe horse with only 10st 11lb.
The classy French import has gone up 8lbs for that win but he looks capable of featuring again here. That was his first race outside of France and he seemed totally unperturbed by the hustle and bustle at Cheltenham. He looks outstanding each-way value at around 10-1.
Flaxen Flare interests me most of the others that ran in the Greatwood. Trainer Gordon Elliott won this race 12 months ago with Cause Of Causes and has had this event pencilled in for some time for his Fred Winter winner. He has a handy pull in the weights with Dell Arca and Sametegal and also warrants each-way support at 16-1.
Nicky Henderson’s Rolling Star was a bitter disappointment in the Triumph Hurdle and again at Liverpool last season. The Haydock race he won may not have been a high quality renewal and I can’t support him under a welter burden of 11st 11lb. Willie Mullins has not really set the world alight with his raiders so far and he could rely on hat-trick seeking City Slicker. He is difficult to assess but could go well off a nice racing weight.
The sports columns have been tipping Totalize and his price has tumbled this week. He may have been interesting at 25-1 but he looks less attractive at half those odds. Chatterbox could finish ahead of Rolling Star and should finish ahead of Chris Pea Green and Irish Saint on Newbury form.
Dell Arca (each-way) 10-1 Bet365
Flaxen Flare (each-way) 16-1 BetVictor
