Joan D'Arc can follow up in Ludlow feature

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Edited 08:10 19.01.2012

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Joan D'Arc is a confident selection to follow up her Fakenham victory and land the the Fred's 75th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow this afternoon.

The 5-y-o has only been with these shrewd connections for three starts and returned to winning form when dropped in class to land a three runner seller last time out. She responded well to assert for pressure there and should be suited by the step upto three miles here. The sharp, speed course will be right up her street and the decent ground should mean her suspect stamina is not unduly tested.

Hohlethelonely comes here on a three timer after a fortunate victory at Huntingdon five days ago. He got first run on his main rival there and was all out to hold on. This step up in trip is not sure to suit and the 7lb penalty certainly means things are tougher.

Fiddledeedee benefited from a much more positive ride at Uttoxeter last time out than she had previously received over hurdles and should now start going some way to paying back her hefty price-tag. Her useful bumper form suggesting this needn't be her limit over hurdles and she was more superior than the bare margin on the day suggests as well, having everything on the stretch turning for home and seeming to do little more than was required under pressure. However, the handicapper has raised her notably in the weights and lumping 11-11 will be much harder here.

Topweight Eldred has been absent since last April where he showed the promised improvement for a step up in trip at the second time of asking, suggesting there may even be more to come over 3m. But with his patchy lightly raced profile having been the way it has up to now it's difficult to have maximum faith in him building on that effort.

In summary, a trappy handicap forf the £6000 prize money with doubts over all the principals. Selling winner Joan D'arc is open to progression for these connections and appeals as the value each-way option at around 20-1 this morning under regular rider Jack Quinlan.

Stephen's Thursday Nap Carrickmines 2.40 Ludlow

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