15:45 Fontwell

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Southern Contract Lifting Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 59.6s

Ellens Way¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 117

7/2

Beat the useful Copper Kay in final novice hurdle last December. Below that level this season however in a pair of handicaps so a bit to prove here.

Form: 2571-67

Undefined Beauty^h²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ian Popham| T: O Murphy| OR: 116| BF

8/1

Flourished since switch to this yard and won back-to-back races at Southwell and Sedgefield before latest third at Hereford where a mistake two out was costly. Remains on the up so not ruled out here.

Form: 002113

Marienstar^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 115

16/1

Model of consistency for this yard since latest pulled up effort at Plumpton after a quick turnaround. Should be back on track here but handicapper keeps upping the ante.

Form: 36322P

Molly Carew²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114

3/1

Dual novice winner last term has run well in both starts this season in handicaps at Lingfield. Extra 2 furlongs here should suit and looks a leading contender today.

Form: 0611-32

Toberdowney²³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 114

5/1

Won just the once to date, that at Wincanton last December. Not far off being competitive in handicaps after that but comes into this off lengthy absence.

Form: 21236-4

Ding Ding⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 114

12/1

Loves it at Plumpton where she won again to start this winter campaign. Sixth there since and well beaten on the flat last time out too so not of great appeal away from Plumpton.

Form: 53-6716

Undisputed^h³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: Noel Williams| OR: 109

6/1

Winner of a Newton Abbot maiden hurdle in June returned with a second at Market Rasen in her first handicap last month. Steps up another furlong here and has each-way possibilities today.

Form: 2/23-712

Shoofly Milly^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 107

11/1

Dual hurdles winner has been pulled up in both starts this campaign at Exeter where she is a past winner. Weakened rapidly in each and those runs reason enough to discount at present.

Form: 3214-PP

Royal Claret^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 100

10/1

Hard to quantify her two fourths in novice races at Exeter and Lingfield to date. Moves into handicaps now and over considerably longer trip so can't be ruled out.

Form: 4345-44

Forecasts

Molly Carew (3/1), Ellens Way (7/2), Toberdowney (5/1), Undisputed (6/1), Undefined Beauty (8/1), Royal Claret (10/1), Shoofly Milly (11/1), Ding Ding (12/1), Marienstar (16/1)

MOLLY CAREW has been third and second in two handicaps this term and can again go one better here with her clearly still improving. Undefined Beauty is another going the right way although she doesn't look quite as well handicapped as the selection. Unidisputed is lightly raced so she too is capable of better and enters calculations.