When Paul Nicholls sends a horse to Ludlow, it’s worth taking note. For such a large stable, just his 10th runner in Shropshire produced a third winner of this season, and he enjoys a 60% win and place record. So it was when Bond Broker, owned by the Owners Group, finally broke his chasing duck in the W R Partners Novices Handicap Chase at the fifth time of asking with Harry Cobden in the plate, after a string of second place finishes.

In glorious Spring sunshine, 44 runners filled the seven races but frustratingly, 3 of the contests didn’t achieve numbers sufficient for each-way betting.

The day was book-ended by victories by two women riders. Amber Jackson-Fennell rode a textbook race in the opening maiden hurdle on the Twiston-Davies owned and trained Borna Gem, a 4l winner over David Pipe’s October Hill. The Twiston-Davies stable runs plenty of young horses in their own colours, successfully attracting attention from potential buyers along the way, so Borna Gem is unlikely to run again in these colours. The race was sponsored by Lycetts Insurance, well known in bloodstock circles, whose brand enjoyed a puff last week when Charlie Deutsch and Martator won the Grand Annual at the Festival.

At the opposite end of the card, former Emma Lavelle  – trained Killer Clown made light work of the EFG Harris Allday Hunters Chase on his first reappearance under Rules since June ’24. Owned, trained and ridden by Daisy White, the 12 year old had not left his enthusiasm behind, making the race something of a procession, the distances being 13l and 16l.

A disappointingly small field of five faced the starter for the Omnia Art Handicap Hurdle over the minimum trip, and even then, Razdan planted himself and refused to race. Fouroneohfever was readily able to justify 13/8 favouritism for the Pauling stable, Kielan Woods in the plate this time around, 5 1/2l ahead of Knighton, a rare runner nowadays in the colours of Lord Vestey.

Rumoursareflying, another 13/8 favourite, put a case of seconditis to bed for Suffolk trainer Pam Sly in the feature Bromfield Sand & Gravel Handicap Chase. With seven runner-up berths in the past two months from her small collection of jumpers, this was a welcome fourth winner of the term, Paul O’Brien putting 6l between him and the runner-up.

Gary & Josh Moore travelled the lengthy journey from Sussex to Ludlow and given the rocketing price of fuel, we should have taken note. The stable has sent just 2 horses to Ludlow in the past 5 years, and Royal Way made no mistake to run out a comfortable winner of the G C Rickards Handicap Hurdle over 2m 5f. Royal Way is nothing special; he’s been running into the frame at this level all term, but at just 6, there’s also room for some improvement too. Perhaps his trainer will get a liking for a course where he enjoys a 50% record.