In the hope 'soft' doesn't appear in the going description, HOBIE gets the nod. He is just 3 lb above the mark off which he opened his chase account at Worcester in September and it's probably best not to read too much into his latest effort, as the ground was against him that day. Chestnut Pete should come on for his run at Ludlow where he was returning from a five-month absence and the 10-y-o is second choice ahead of Gerard Mentor, who was just touched off over hurdles last time.















