17:35 Aintree

Friday 18 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1019:4520:2020:50

Smarkets Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 5m 1.8s

Pineapple Rush²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| D

11/4

Hat-trick seeker and handicap debutante, who has won her two starts in novice hurdles. Won both those starts, and though she has more on her plate here, she should acquit herself well off this opening mark.

Form: 3211-

Cabaret Queen^t¹⁵²

9/2

Mixed form in novice hurdles and makes her handicap debut here having had wind surgery. Would have a chance off this mark on the pick of her novice form.

Form: F13/123-

Passing Call^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 117

6/1

Ran a good race at Stratford last time out and steps up in trip for the first time here. On the same mark now and every chance she can progress further in first-time cheek pieces.

Form: 2/22223-

Kupatana^h⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117| BF| D

9/2

Disappointing when sent off odds-on for a Chepstow novice hurdle last time out, but could do better in handicap company and interesting to see how she fares on this sounder surface.

Form: 1/412-

Lucca Lady²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 116

7/2

Second on all three starts over hurdles so far, including when finishing just ahead of Passing Call at Stratford last time out. Up 3lb so slightly worse off at the weights but should run her usual solid race.

Form: 241222-

Ginge de Sophia^t¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

22/1

Novice hurdle form leaves her with plenty of improvement to find in this company on handicap debut, though she ran her best race in that sphere on good ground.

Form: 20/344-

Valdas Princess²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Shoemark| T: O Sherwood| OR: 102

33/1

Well behind a couple of these at Stratford on handicap debut last time out and tough to see her reversing form dropped 5lb.

Form: 5/4F087-

Hermanus⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: J Ewart| OR: 97

10/1

Hinted at ability in a number of novice hurdles without managing to get off the mark and makes her handicap debut here; unraced on a sounder surface except in a bumper for a previous yard.

Form: 574U53-

Forecasts

Pineapple Rush (11/4), Lucca Lady (7/2), Kupatana (9/2), Cabaret Queen (9/2), Passing Call (6/1), Hermanus (10/1), Ginge de Sophia (22/1), Valdas Princess (33/1)

Pineapple Rush makes her handicap debut here and should go well, though top-weight won't be easy and preference is for PASSING CALL. Alan King's charge ran well at Stratford last time out when shaping as if this longer trip should suit, and in first-time cheek pieces she can progress again to get off the mark here. Lucca Lady finished ahead of the selection last time out and could be third best.