Betfred 'Don't Pay The Penalty' Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 6m 14.8s

Drinks Interval^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122

4/1

Won her first two starts over hurdles (novices) in October 2017, and has rather paid the price in terms of her future in handicaps; solid in the main with no trip or ground issues, but a bit below-par at Uttoxeter latest.

Form: 5F334-0

Skewiff²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119| BF

9/4

Hit with a 4lb rise following another creditable effort at Ffos Las last month when beaten just 1L by Litterale C; versatile in terms of underfoot conditions (good and soft); every chance.

Form: 3561-42

Kayla^t²³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 115

8/1

Not won since July 2016, but still sits 5lb above her last winning mark. Still a maiden over fences after three attempts, so it's back to the smaller obstacles now on her first outing for eight months.

Form: 246355-

Katy Royal²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Joe Colliver| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 112

6/1

Continues to look progressive now back up in trip, and whilst flattered by the winning margin at Hexham in May (main rival sprawled at the last) she had the measure; solid second off this mark at Cartmel latest (2m6f).

Form: 3243-12

Final Reminder²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 107| D

3/1

Mare who has won both of her starts this calendar year (2m5f, Ayr & 3m1f+, Cartmel). Up 9lb for that latest 5L success but clearly progressive and holds realistic prospects in what isn't an overly strong race by Aintree standards.

Form: P5/55-11

Cockley Beck^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 102

6/1

Five-race hurdles maiden who finished 3L third to Our Morris at Perth last month (3m good), but since given a rather harsh 2lb rise. Unexposed and did win a soft ground bumper in 2017; eye-catching jockey booking.

Form: 1/2344-3

Non-Runners

Ten Trees³⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: Mrs Stella Barclay J: Sam Coltherd

Sauvignon²¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Sauvignon (2/1), Skewiff (9/4), Final Reminder (3/1), Drinks Interval (4/1), Katy Royal (6/1), Cockley Beck (6/1), Kayla (8/1), Ten Trees (12/1)

Not a deep race by Aintree standards, but a tricky puzzle to solve with a number of likeable enough mares in their grade. Final Reminder and Katy Royal are both progressive horses who clearly stay very well, whilst the steady weights climber Sauvignon commands respect given the form of the Skelton string. However, we look higher up the handicap for the likeliest winner and that is the Evan Williams-trained SKEWIFF. She is a tough sort who managed to see off all bar the previous (and improving) winner Litterale C at Ffos Las last month and can gain a deserved success despite her revised career high mark.