Runners were a little light for our most recent meeting on Thursday, with only two of the six contests producing each-way betting. As if in sympathy, the heavens opened from race 3 to produce yet more rain, after the abysmal wet start to the year.

Nevertheless, the feature Forbra Gold Cup, sponsored by our friends at Flowfit, produced a decent enough race before the rain came, Craig Nichol putting in a valiant effort on winner Aboutdamntime to hold off a late challenge from favourite Prince Zaltar, in a rare reversal for the Champion Trainer elect, Dan Skelton.

The Greenall & Guerriero – trained winner took up the lead four out, was 3l ahead at the final fence and stayed on resolutely with local challenger Rockinupastorm from the Daly yard 4l back in third. Not quite the shock produced by the original Forbra, winner of the 1932 Grand National at 50/1.

Greenall and Guerriero are fast establishing a solid record with staying chasers, with Iroko headed for Cheltenham in a little over a week’s time.

Another with his eye on Cheltenham is trainer Tom Ellis, who fields Latenightpass in the Glenfarclas Cross Country, the eighth leg of the Crystal Cup, on Festival Wednesday. But Tankardstown Diva has been a fabulous ambassadress for the Warwickshire yard, and scored for a fourth time in six runs in the Pyoneer Ale Mares handicap Hurdle over 3m. On the basis of this comfortable 4l win, she may still be ahead of the handicapper. Tallest jockey in the Weighing Room, Jack Andrews was in the plate for his 26th winner of the term.

The prize for the longest distance travelled went to the winner of the opener, Burano Murano, trained in Newmarket by Denis Quin, better known for his flat exploits. The four year old compounded a frustrating afternoon for the Skeltons by overturning 1/6 favourite Tales of Bravery in the Butty Bach Novices Hurdle by 2l under Callum Pritchard.

Pritchard enjoyed a second winner in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle with commentator’s nightmare An Buachaill Rua, a Dungarvan Point-to-Point winner who hadn’t been troubling the judge since moving to Sheila Lewis’ yard in Wales until now. The stewards enquired into the improvement in form, to which Lewis replied her horses had been out of sorts over the winter. Join the club, eh?

Another horse with an unpronounceable name stamped his authority on the 3m 1985 lager Handicap Chase. Martalmix’jac, a nine year old grey trained by Mel Rowley, has been runner-up in no less than 3 chases at Ludlow since 2023, so this 2 3/4l victory over the Jonjo O’Neill – trained Anytrixwilldo was well overdue. 2 of Rowley’s 12 winners this season have been at Ludlow, 3 at Hereford, so the Welsh Marches are a happy hunting ground.  Shane Quinlan was in the plate.

Seeing out the afternoon was a third handicap hurdle, this time for conditional riders, in which favourite Thank You Blue gave some welcome relief for favourite backers, making all and running out a 13l winner for Lewis Stones and trainer Jennie Candlish.