14:40 Towcester

Wednesday 15 February 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 23.0s

Tambura²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: G C Maundrell| OR: 125

10/1

Very likeable mare who won under today's amateur rider at Plumpton in November and again ran well last time out when narrowly beaten at Ludlow. Handles the ground and has to be one for the short list.

Form: 322384-

Queens Present¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: D W P Arbuthnot| OR: 119

7/1

Given quite a lot to do when staying on from way back to be third on handicap bow at Doncaster last time. Still relatively unexposed and open to improvement, but her ability to handle today's ground has to be taken on trust.

Form: 110334

Socksy^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

15/2

Ex-Irish bumper winner who scored here last month over 5 furlongs less and with her tongue tied down for the first time. Seemed to find this trip beyond her at Hereford on penultimate start but yard in cracking form and can't be lighltly dismissed.,

Form: 746131-

What A Diva^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 116

4/1

Hattrick seeking mare in grand form at present. She stays well and has won in similar conditions so should go very well, although does have to defy another 7lb rise in her handicap mark.

Form: 241150

Pulling Power^t⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 114

16/1

Scored here last year in heavy ground over two miles and hasn't looked to be crying out for a step up to this trip in recent starts. Yard among the winners though so any market support would be interesting.

Form: P0/4UP3-

Two Swallows⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 112

11/4

Won over this trip at Doncaster on better ground in December and not disgraced in chasing home a decent sort at Wetherby last time out. Not certain to be ideally suited by very testing ground at this trip, but should be thereabouts.

Form: 2P25/12

Act Now^t³⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 92

11/4

Hacked up in lower grade at Plumpton just 48 hours ago and even with her 7lb penalty runs off a light weight at the foot of the handicap. Sure to go well again if fully recovered from that win and likely to have a big say in the destiny of today's prize.

Form: 179/58-3

Non-Runners

Shoofly Milly³⁵

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: J Scott J: James Best

Forecasts

Two Swallows (11/4), Act Now (11/4), What A Diva (4/1), Queens Present (7/1), Socksy (15/2), Tambura (10/1), Pulling Power (16/1), Shoofly Milly (16/1)

In an interesting race, Godfrey Maundrell's TAMBURA is just given the nod despite the steadier of top weight. All five of her career wins have come under amateur Zack Baker and he is back on board today, so the pair should give it a really good shot. Receiving lumps of weight, Act Now is a big danger having fairly hacked up at Plumpton on Moday. She should make a real race of it, as too should Socksy, who won here over a shorter distance last time, but handles the ground and represents a yard in good form. What a Diva also has claims, but off her new mark may just find one or two too good. 1. Tambura 2. Act Now 3. Socksy