Alma De Cuba Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 20:31 | Winning time: 3m 32.83s

(1)

St Mary's²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| CD

9/2

Twice a winner here last year (once over C&D) she shaped as though she needed the run coming back from a break last time having not run on turf since last year. She's only 2lb above her last winning mark from a stable that does well here.

Form: 4-62755

(3)

Notice²⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J Mitchell| T: D M Simcock| OR: 85

6/1

Consistent in handicaps last year she was placed on a few occasions before ending the season with a poor effort when highly tried in Listed grade. This looks a much easier test than she was given all last year and dangerous if ready to go first time.

Form: 322437-

(2)

River Icon²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 83

20/1

Useful over hurdles she opened her Flat account at the second attempt in a Beverley maiden in the autumn of last year. She's been below form over hurdles of late and that carried over into her recent Flat start struggling in a handicap last time.

Form: 310-5

(4)

Piedita⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 80| D

7/2

Like many from this yard she showed improved form when stepped up in trip in this case to 2m last year in handicaps. Given a long break she looked to need the run when last seen at Kempton (2m; didn't settle) but remains unexposed and of interest.

Form: 7/3112-6

(6)

Our Kylie²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Nathan Evans| T: B Ellison| OR: 65| D

14/1

Has come back to the Flat fit from a jumping campaign and although she ran with credit the first time her last effort was very laboured (behind Cape Liberty). Looked as though she could do with some headgear applied given her demeanour last time.

Form: 1/611-25

(5)

Cape Liberty¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: F Norton| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 78

6/5

Well found in the market on her handicap debut she justified the support in a weak heat looking to be well ahead of her mark (progress to come). Failed to defy a 6lb penalty but lost little caste in defeat; now steps up to 2m off a career-high mark.

Form: 0-5512

Forecasts

Cape Liberty (6/5), Piedita (7/2), St Mary's (9/2), Notice (6/1), Our Kylie (14/1), River Icon (20/1)

The three-year-old Cape Liberty receives lumps of weight here having looked to have been well suited by stepping up in trip of late and she steps up a further 2f here. She’ll prove hard to beat but one of Sir Mark Prescott’s dished out a 6L beating last time and he will have a good idea where he stands with the likely favourite and his PIEDITA is still unexposed over such trips having made a creditable comeback last time. St Mary’s has to be respected on her course form from the Andrew Balding yard that do well here especially in handicaps with Notice also feared if she was ready first time up having easing in grade.