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Diva performance can win the day at Ludlow

Written by Press Association | Feb 26, 2026 6:37:12 AM

Tankardstown Diva can make course and distance form count in the Pyoneer Ale Mares' Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on Thursday.

The Jukebox Jury mare has shown impressive consistency since leaving Patrick Donoghue's stable and crossing the Irish Sea to join Tom Ellis at his Rugby yard.

The seven-year-old was well beaten on her stable debut but then was second at Warwick before relishing a step up in trip.

She comfortably won over 4600m at Market Rasen and then followed that up just nine days later when heading the field over 4800m at Ludlow.

She fell at Fakenham but quickly put that behind her when winning at Plumpton last month and a fourth win of the season is well within her grasp, despite a 6lb rise.

Ballycamus returns to the Shropshire circuit and is well placed to deliver more of the same in the Forbra Gold Cup.

The Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained nine-year-old has won on his last two visits to Ludlow and is the pick for a hat-trick.

He put two disappointing runs at Cheltenham behind him and benefited from the drop in class as a smaller field played into his hands when coming home a length clear in December. Refreshed after 71 days off he can make it count having only been raised 1lb.

Thank You Blue goes in search of a February three-timer in the Nightjar British Stout Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

He won well twice over 4000m at Sedgefield and despite a 9lb hike can complete a quickfire treble back down in trip to 3200m.

Fergal and Fern O'Brien team up with Cooler Than Me and can make it count in the St Austell Brewery Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle at Taunton.

The 5lb conditional was in the plate for two relatively smooth victories earlier this month at Market Rasen and Taunton and a return to Somerset can bare fruit for the eight-year-old.

Inferno Sacree can finally get his nose in front in the weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle after hitting the crossbar on his last three days out.

The Nigel Hawke-trained son of Saint Des Saints has come close at Plumpton, Taunton and Catterick and is the pick to get back in the winner's enclosure for the first time since May 2023.

Fortune Dancer puts her unbeaten chase record on the line as she goes in search of a fourth win from four over the larger obstacles in the Boyle Sports Cheltenham Bank Builder Jackpot Mares' Handicap Chase.

The Soldier Of Fortune mare was beaten by 42, 53 and 66 lengths in three fruitless attempts over hurdles but is a different animal over fences.

Wins at Fontwell, Uttoxeter and Windsor have seen the eight-year-old climb from a rating of 76 to 106 and despite a step up in grade she can maintain her perfect record.

Tunisya can make a winning debut for Faye Bramley in the wetherbyracing.co.uk EBF Fillies' Junior "National Hunt" Hurdle.

Bought by JP McManus from France after a winning run over hurdles at Pau and sent to the Lambourn base of Bramley the four-year-old can bring that form with her to West Yorkshire. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

LUDLOW: Race 1: 15.32 Tales Of Bravery, Race 2: 16.07 Ballycamus, Race 3: 16.42 TANKARDSTOWN DIVA (NAP), Race 4: 16.17 Kit's Coty, Race 5: 17.52 Broadway Honey, Race 6: 18.27 Thank You Blue.

TAUNTON: Race 1: 15.41 Calvino, Race 2: 16.16 Cooler Than Me, Race 3: 16.51 Wheresmemoneygone, Race 4: 17.26 Inferno Sacree, Race 5: 18.01 Fortune Dancer, Race 6: 18.36 Quickkick.

WETHERBY: Race 1: 15.50 Tunisya, Race 2: 16.25 I Wish You, Race 3: 17.00 Voodoo Angel, Race 4: 17.35 Largy Force, Race 5: 18.10 Woodland Park, Race 6: 18.45 La Marquise, Race 7: 19.15 Court At Slip.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.00 Blue Celestial, Race 2: 19.30 Zoffandia, Race 3: 20.00 Thecoffeepoddotco, Race 4: 20.30 Damzon, Race 5: 21.00 Flicka's Girl, Race 6: 21.30 This Farh, Race 7: 22.00 Silkies Sib.

ALL TO COME: Tankardstown Diva (Ludlow, Race 3) and Fortune Dancer (Taunton, Race 5).