32Red.com Mares' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 5m 12.03s

Angels Antics¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/4

Improving, and followed up a respectable fourth to the useful Dame Rose at Newbury with a good effort at Haydock in the heavy last time, just finding the line coming too soon and going down a neck. Track will suit, and not easy to discount.

Form: 23142

Hitherjacques Lady⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127| D

3/1

Twice a winner in heavy ground last year, so no worries on that score, and turned in a respectable effort on her comeback in November. Has improvement to find if she's to challenge the principals, but this ground brings her into the equation.

Form: 32110-3

Midnight Jazz^p1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 136| D

9/2

Likeable type that's often pitched in at the deep end, as she is again here, and would go close on her best form (excellent second to Vroum Vroum Mag at Doncaster this time last year) but this ground probably slower than she'd like.

Form: 21220-6

Poppy Kay³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

15/8

Looked an improving type at the beginning of last year but progress appears to have stalled for the time being, although little wrong with her third at Newbury last time. Ground no issue but of more concern is the form of the yard, which is poor.

Form: 1P12-13

Non-Runners

Dusky Legend³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Forecasts

Poppy Kay (15/8), Angels Antics (9/4), Dusky Legend (5/2), Hitherjacques Lady (3/1), Midnight Jazz (9/2)

Not an easy contest to solve. Dusky Legend looks the one to beat on form but this heavy ground levels the playing field out a bit, and neither Hitherjacques Lady nor ANGELS ANTICS should be dismissed despite having a bit to find on form. Preference is for the latter, who looks to be improving, handles the ground fine, and ran the useful Cap Soleil close at Haydock last time. She doesn't need to find much more to challenge for top honours here. Midnight Jazz might have been interesting on better ground, but may find this too slow.