13:30 Ascot

Saturday 25 November 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Trisoft Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 20.95s

On Demand^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

13/2

All three of her career successes have come at Wincanton, and she's 5lb above her last winning mark when beating Garo De Juilley by ¾L in mid October (2m good). Stays this longer trip.

Form: 200-315

Graceful Legend^p1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 127

11/1

A four time winner last season (never beyond 2m3f+). Much higher in the weights now, and not up to Listed level at Wetherby latest (2m). Still 3lb above her last winning mark and connections seek more with the application of cheek-pieces.

Form: 4111-36

Hitherjacques Lady²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127

11/2

Proved her worth over hurdles in testing conditions last season, and there's plenty to like about her prominent racing approach. Ended the season down the field in a strong race at Newbury, but a revised mark of 127 might not be her absolute limit.

Form: 032110-

Carnspindle²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 125| D

8/1

Beaten 10L by Hitherjacques Lady in a Lingfield novices hurdle in February (heavy), but progressed quickly thereafter winning twice and ending the season beaten 6L by Midnight Tour at Cheltenham (2m4f+ good). Blew up badly on seasonal bow.

Form: 62112-0

River Arrow²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 123

7/1

Sprung a surprise when winning over 2m4f on soft ground at Southwell in March, but backed that effort up with an excellent handicap debut third to Snow Leopardess at Newbury in March (Hitherjacques Lady 12th). Up 4lb, but much respected.

Form: 42/4P13-

Jester Jet¹⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 122

13/2

Has had a new lease of life since joining this stable, winning three on the bounce (2m4f-3m) on quick ground. The handicapper has taken aim and slowed her progress, but she proved she's not done just yet when third at Aintree in June. 2lb higher.

Form: 3F11-13

Whatsthatallabout⁴²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N P Madden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 119

13/2

Notched the hat-trick over 2m3f+ at Bangor in September 2016 when a 12L winner of a modest novices hurdle. Off since, and back handicapping off a fair mark in a stronger race, but on ground that we know suits.

Form: 4F3111-

Iconic Sky^p²⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 114

22/1

Filly who has won just once in ten starts, over 2m at Fakenham (soft) on New Years Day 2017. Ran in snatches, and comfortably held (third) from this mark when last in action in March, and stamina very much unproven.

Form: 251373-

Amron Kali^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 112

14/1

Back-peddled at a rate of knots since winning a couple of minor events in May. However, she is versatile in terms of underfoot conditions, and she has proven that she stays well. Much more required in a competitive contest.

Form: 113750

Midnight Glory³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111| BF

5/1

Took a mares novices hurdle by 4½L at odds of 25/1 at Newbury in January (2m4½f soft), and was beaten 14L by Beer Goggles in her first try in handicap company at Newbury in March, but bombed badly on seasonal bow at Exeter last month.

Form: 58153-P

Forecasts

Midnight Glory (5/1), Hitherjacques Lady (11/2), Jester Jet (13/2), On Demand (13/2), Whatsthatallabout (13/2), River Arrow (7/1), Carnspindle (8/1), Graceful Legend (11/1), Amron Kali (14/1), Iconic Sky (22/1)

A few fairly likeable mares feature in the line up, and there's no denying that the bulk of this field have fully proved that they know how to win races when presented with the opportunity. Both Jester Jet and Whatsthatallabout have run up sequences in lesser events, but the latter named has fitness to prove on her return from a 14 month break. Carnspindle progressed quickly after being well and truly eclipsed by today's rival Hitherjacques Lady in deep ground at Lingfield in February, but she blew up badly on her return to action recently. On Demand stays this trip, and is most effective going right-handed, but having done all of her winning at Wincanton, she needs to up her game even further. Therefore, the standout option is the upwardly mobile Tom Symonds trained mare RIVER ARROW. She came on leaps and bounds in the latter half of last season and concluded her campaign with a career best third to Snow Leopardess at Newbury in March (handicap debut). Up 4lb, she still looks potentially well handicapped assuming she can resume her racing duties where she left off eight months ago.