Well-related mares among classy bumper field at Ludlow on Friday

The Watch On Racingtv Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (4.00) at Ludlow on Friday has attracted a field filled with a number of very well-related debutantes, and with last year's winner Mullenbeg going on to Listed success, it could be a contest worth watching.

Paul Sandy was the subject of a recent Bloodstock Big Read as a result of Luccia's exploits, and the Shropshire businessman teams up with Alan King to see homebred Allegro Forte make her debut in the Pump and Plant Services silks.

The daughter of Highland Reel is out of the smart Group 3-placed Hurricane Run mare Earth Amber and is therefore a three-parts sister to Luccia.

Luccia, by French 2,000 Guineas hero and Roveagh Lodge Stud sire The Gurkha, is unbeaten in three starts for Nicky Henderson, including a Listed mares' novice hurdle and Listed bumper on her last two runs.

She had been an intended runner in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle this Saturday but an unsatisfactory scope ruled her out.

Another interesting newcomer to note among the Ludlow field is Queen Mandana, a daughter of the late Black Sam Bellamy and out of the winning hurdler Queen Soraya.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained four-year-old is a homebred of the Fox-Pitts and is a half-sister to their hugely popular Grade 3 Becher Chase heroine Snow Leopardess, one who is set to be running at Sandown, this time in the Veterans' Series Final.

Harry Fry saddles Picnic In The Park who, unsurprisingly, is by Walk In The Park.

Bred by Wood Farm Stud, the six-year-old is a close relation to the Grade 3-placed hurdler Great Try and a half-sister to Grade 3 Stayers' Handicap Hurdle victor Stoney Mountain. Her two siblings sported the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings to great effect with ten wins among them.

Another to note is Miss Applejack, from the first crop of Irish Derby hero and Overbury Stud resident Jack Hobbs. The seventh foal out of the Sovereign Water mare Apple Days, she is a half-sister to three winners including recent Kempton scorer and Listed-placed bumper performer Glimpse Of Gala, by Passing Glance.

James and Jean Potter's homebred Call The Dance is another who catches the eye on paper. The daughter of the late Kayf Tara is a close relation to Listed-winning and Grade 2-placed hurdler Thomas Campbell and a half-sister to another smart performer in the Graded-placed Lisp.

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