'Aggressive' Ludlow prize-money rewarded as track prepares for return of jumps

Ludlow's "aggressive" prize-money policy has been rewarded with bumper fields for its traditional pre-Christmas meeting as jump racing returns with a bang after the freeze.

There is just over £100,000 on offer on Tuesday's card, which is sponsored by independent wine merchants Tanners and is due to be contested by 89 runners, with three places for each-way betting on all seven races.

With the temperature expected to rise as high as 14C, clerk of the course Simon Sherwood is "hopeful stroke optimistic" that racing will come through an inspection scheduled for noon on Monday.

He is looking forward to Tuesday and said: "Tanners raceday is always a big day, there's over £100,000 in prize-money, and it's lovely to have good fields and see Christmas in.

"Most people don't know we also have our own appearance money. There is £3,500 of it in the Tanners Claret Class 2 race and it goes down to eighth place.

"We've always done it but I don't think many trainers read the small print at times," added Sherwood, who warned that next year could be more challenging on the prize-money front.

"This is based on the 2022 levy and 2023 is a little bit different and we'll have a watching brief going forward," he said. "But trying to provide as aggressive an amount of money as we can afford is in our DNA. We're lucky as we've got very good landlords who are very good to us and some very proactive directors."

Among those keen to support Ludlow's efforts is trainer Charlie Longsdon, whose four runners on Tuesday include impressive recent course winner Western Zephyr in an oversubscribed novice hurdle (3.25), from which 17 horses were eliminated at the declaration stage.

Charlie Longsdon: has four runners at Ludlow on TuesdayCredit: Alex Davidson (Getty Images)

"You always support good prize-money," said the trainer. "To be fair, others are trying and Hereford the next day are putting on almost £100,000 worth of prize-money – it's little steps but we'll get there eventually.

"Ludlow have always done a very good job. They're non profit-making and they plough everything back in. Some racecourses should take heed of that, it's a great effort in difficult times."

He added: "It looks a strong novice hurdle but Western Zephyr hasn't done a lot wrong so far and I was keen to go back there as he won there last time. I hope he could end up being quite a nice horse."

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