Ladbrokes Hurdle

The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle is always hugely competitive and Saturday's renewal at Ascot is unlikely to disappoint. The guesswork for antepost punters is which way the ground will go. Underfoot conditions will certainly play a huge role where favourite Tarlac is concerned, as he appears to be at his best when conditions are testing. Nicky Henderson's charge has clearly been aimed at this race. The five-year-old was introduced to Ascot on his reappearance last month when coming from off the pace to beat Fait Le Jojo by a length, but probably winning with a bit more to spare than the bare margin. As such, a 6lb rise looks fair and, given that he's open to plenty of improvement, he has to be respected. However, his odds are pretty cramped. As short as 4/1 in places, Tarlac doesn't appeal from a punting perspective, a remark which also applies to Tipperary All Star, who is a top-priced 6/1. The latter barely broke sweat to land a novices' handicap at Cheltenham where he was given a supremely confident ride by Ruby Walsh. However, this is a huge step up in class and the assessor has stuck him up by a staggering 24lb. But my main concern with regard to Tipperary All Star is this. When horses win on the bridle like he has the last twice, there is no guarantee that he will pull out more if faced with a fight. So many times I've seen horses win on a tight rein, but when they are asked to dig deep in a race they simply down tools. I am not saying that I think the Irish raider is a 'bridle horse', but he has still has a bit to prove. At 12/1 with Blue Square, Nation State rates a worthy, value alternative. The Gary Moore-trained gelding was given a bizarre ride by the usually brilliant Ruby Walsh in the William Hill Hurdle at Sandown where he was clearly given too much to do. Held up and still going well approaching the third-last, Walsh appeared to misjudge things slightly, allowing the front pair too much rope before asking his mount for maximum effort. It might sound a tad harsh on Ruby, as every jockey makes mistakes. But the waiting tactics aboard the five-year-old were exaggerated - asking a horse to come from so far back on such bad ground is never easy. To the horse's credit, though, he was putting in good late work and lost little caste in finishing nine lengths third to Overstrand, whom he will be meeting on 10lb better terms at the weekend. Nation State is lightly raced and is probably capable of better than we have seen thus far. His novice for was pretty decent too, and I am confident that he has a race of this nature in him off his current mark. All in all, he rates a very solid each-way punting proposition. David Pipe's Acambo, winner of the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock off an 8lb lower mark in May, would be a leading contender if he is fully tuned-up for his seasonal reappearance. Overstrand has to be high on any list after his decisive victory in the William Hill Hurdle at Sandown on December 2, but he will find it tough to confirm the placings with Nation State on the revised terms. Tipperary All Star isn't the only Irish raider. Indeed, the additional trio crossing the pond for this, Artist's Muse, Victram and Well Mounted, all merit respect. Victram landed the Imperial Cup at Sandown last term and is always feared in these handicaps. Verdict 1pt e/w Nation State @ 12/1 (Blue Square)