Ludlow report: Nick Scholfield and The Happy Chappy are all smiles
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Nick Scholfield took the riding honours at Ludlow with a fine 54-1 double on Dark Mahler and The Happy Chappy.
The latter made his supporters smile when getting up close home to claim the main race on the card, the Heath Farm Meals Handicap Chase.
The six-year-old, trained by Sarah Humphrey, overcame his relative inexperience on what was only his third start over fences with a promising performance to wear down Miami Present.
Miami Present had jumped all 22 obstacles in front, but could not ward off The Happy Chappy (10-1), who was ridden with great patience and confidence by Scholfield.
The winning margin was a length and three-quarters, with Aunty Ann 14 lengths back in third.
Scholfield said: "He's a progressive stayer. In his last three runs, he'd won two and finished second and now he's won again today."
Scholfield had earlier struck on the Emma Lavelle-trained Dark Mahler (4-1), who made a successful bow over fences in the Bernard Hart's Finishing Strongly 70th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase.
While several came to grief with only four completing the course, Dark Mahler put in a safe round and scored by 14 lengths from long-time leader Legal OK.
"He's a nice, improving young horse. He was not that experienced as he's not had that many runs, but he jumped well on the whole," said Scholfield.
Cresswell Legend (2-1 joint-favourite), trained by Kim Bailey, jumped into the lead three out under David Bass on the way to defeating the staying-on Haul Away in the Racing UK HD Introductory Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Sunshade (6-1) made an impressive debut over jumps in the colours of the Queen when bounding clear on the run-in under Jeremiah McGrath in the Buy Your IJF Xmas Gifts Today Mares' 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle.
Lucinda Egerton's Bollin Line (5-1) won for the third time this month when seeing off Jim Dreaper's Irish raider Mullaghmurphy Blue by two and three-quarter lengths in the Amateur Jockeys' Association Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.
Brendan Powell's Phoenix Dawn (9-4) made his experience count after four previous efforts as he drew clear from three out for Richie McLernon to take the Ludlow Racecourse Bookmakers Juvenile Hurdle by 18 lengths from Marettimo.
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