One man’s loss is another’s gain in the merry-go-round of racing. When the popular Shark Hanlon had his licence withdrawn in 2024 for 12 months, he was forced to sell nearly all the horses in his yard. One of those under the hammer was Rodney, now a five time winner for Presteigne trainer Kerry Lee after a cheeky half length victory over Toothless in Ludlow’s feature Attwood Memorial Trophy Chase.

Saddled with a name forever associated with comedy idiots, Rodney arrived at Lee’s rural yard in the Marches 12 months ago, and the change was an instant tonic, with two handicap hurdle victories at Taunton and Ffos Las. His graduation to the larger obstacles was less than perfect, taking a tumble on his debut last October at Bangor. However, he’s learned from that error, and this cosy victory under Charlie Deutsch was the culmination of a hat-trick, having risen in the ratings from 109 to 124. At a purchase price of £9,000, he’s looking a savvy buy.

By his own exacting standards, it’s been a quiet campaign for Alan King, with few in the way of Saturday horses to shout the odds for his Barbury yard. A few years ago, it was only a switch to the flat that kept the likeable King in the game, so it’s no surprise to see him succeeding with youngsters that may have a dual-purpose career ahead. One such is King Al, a juvenile over hurdles making his maiden victory in the opening Racing To School Juvenile Hurdle. King Al was bred at Apple Tree Stud, where former colleague and stable jockey Choc Thornton is in charge. Tom Bellamy was in the plate for a 38th campaign winner.

Such is the array of talent at Closutton that Willie Mullins is sending runners more frequently over the Irish Sea, and not just for the big races. Son Patrick was charged with Diamond du Berlais in the following Mares Maiden Hurdle over 2m5f, and recorded a facile 4 3/4l win on the bridle in the 12 runner race. Hardly Cheltenham standard, but with plenty of room for improvement, this won’t be the last we’ve seen of this French-bred mare.

Another horse to thrive in new surroundings is Sherminator, who notched a third win as a novice since January last year, this time under the supervision of Harry Fry. Previously with Emma Lavelle, Sherminator changed hands in January ’25, since when he’s enjoyed success in a Junior National Hunt hurdle, which allows a horse to maintain its Novice status for the subsequent season. Bryan Carver was the man in the plate, a 20th winner of the season for him.

Echoes of Lady Thatcher in the fifth, as Magical Maggie needed only to be ridden out to win by a length in the mares handicap hurdle, denying Charlie Deutsch a double in the process. It maintains Alistair Ralph’s impressive record at Ludlow – a model of consistency.

Another who is consistently among the winners at his home track is Henry Daly, and he served up Windsor Blue in the penultimate contest to produce a third winner from just 15 runners at the course on his doorstep. Daly is sadly too affable to be a trainer; his old school approach does not allow for the growth of the yard with fresh owners, and if there’s one thing a yard needs, it’s continual “investment” of new money from owners prepared to tilt at windmills. Henry, more networking among the chimney pots of Birmingham and Shrewsbury is required!

In gloomy damp weather like this past few days, it seems an injustice to conclude the card with a chase, even if it’s a hunters event. Six lined up to burnish their credentials for a tilt at one of the three Classics among the hunter chase calenda – a trip to Cheltenham for the Foxhunter is on anyone’s bucket list. Winner Barton Snow had a pretty successful introduction to Rules racing last Spring, winning novice events at Stratford, then Cheltenham’s Hunters’ evening, and finally a valuable Restricted race back at Stratford’s Hunters Finale. Carrying on where he left off, he notched a second winner of the term with an uncontested 12l victory over Jeffrey’s Cross for trainer John O’Shea and rider Henry Crow. Keep an eye for his entry at Cheltenham.