Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips for Ludlow, Taunton & Newcastle on Thursday

Prejudice to land the Thursday nap back up in trip 

Good to soft ground at Ludlow for today’s seven race card and there is a cracking novices’ hurdle over the minimum trip.

Knickerbockerglory faced an impossible task trying to give weight to subsequent Grade 2 winner Aucunrisque at Wincanton last time, but he pulled too hard – not for the first time – and was beaten almost 20L back in third. 

If learning to settle he will be a big threat to Hidor De Bersy (1.30pm) who made all to score at Fakenham on his third start over hurdles. He won his sole Bumper at Huntingdon and today’s underfoot conditions should be ideal given he was pulled out of a race at Sandown last month on heavy ground.

Aidan Coleman has just the one ride on the card, and I hope he gives the gelding a more aggressive ride than the one he gave Rock On Rita at Plumpton – his sole ride again – earlier in the week. One concern is the form of the Tom Symonds yard who have been out of sorts of late. 

Recommendation: Hidor De Bersy (1.30pm Ludlow) @ 7/4 with Coral

Karl Philippe has been raised 6lbs for winning over C&D last time on soft ground six weeks ago and he has always promised to be a decent horse. If there was significant rain and the ground turned soft, he would be a confident selection, but as long as conditions are genuinely good to soft then Kakamora (2.00pm) can break his maiden tag over fences for Tom George.

The selection looked a natural over fences when third in a decent contest on his first chase start at Wincanton, found the ground too soft at Musselburgh on his penultimate run and then ran well back at Wincanton last time in a hot race. He has dropped 8lbs in the weights for those three starts and his two wins over hurdles came last spring. The George yard had a good winner at Warwick last week in the same Tim Syder colours and he must have every chance in what promises to be a most informative contest. 

Recommendation: Kakamora (2.00pm Ludlow) @ 4/1 with bet365

Over at Taunton and Larkbarrow Lad (3.38pm) ran a terrific when third over today’s C&D last week and he would surely have won had he not made a couple of significant errors at a vital time. He was also hampered by a faller at halfway and while he has yet to win at this trip of three miles, he must go close for Philip Hobbs whose string remain in good form. He gets the each way vote.

The Tom Symonds trained Loud As Lions has been put in at 25/1 and I will certainly be keeping a close eye on the market as he has bits of form which suggest he could be very well treated. He is likely to give it a good go from the front and he will relish the forecast soft ground.

Recommendation: Larkbarrow Lad (3.38pm Taunton) @ 6/1 with William Hill (Each-Way)

Society Red will be all the rage as he bids to make it four wins from his last five starts but I do feel Prejudice (3.16pm) is very well handicapped on his best form.

The experiment of dropping the selection back to a mile at Chelmsford last time was unsuccessful but the selection has been dropped a couple of pounds as a result and he is now 3lbs lower than when second to subsequent Group 1 winner Audarya over C&D – albeit back in August 2020. He has not recaptured his best form following a long break in two recent starts, but this looks a more suitable test.  

Recommendation: Prejudice (3.16pm Newcastle) @ 9/2 with bet365