16:00 Hereford

Saturday 9 March 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

MansionBet Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 6m 32.50s

Silent Steps^b,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: N B King| OR: 110

13/2

Pulled up on two of her three starts since winning by 23L at Southwell (3m, good-to-soft) in first time blinkers (retained since) in December including at Uttoxeter (soft) last time out. Races off a mark 2lb higher than for that Southwell success.

Form: 351P3P

Cloone Lady¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 108

10/1

Point-to-point winner but a maiden after five starts under Rules. Pulled up at Kempton (good) last time out and probably best watched at present.

Form: 1462-5P

Fille Des Champs^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107

20/1

Beaten 45L on chase debut at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) in December and pulled up over an extended 2m3f at the same venue the following month. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 3P-318P

Northern Beau^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: M Scudamore| OR: 107

8/1

Made most of the running when winning a small field 2m4f handicap chase at Leicester (good-to-firm) by 7L last time out. Reapplied cheekpieces and tongue tie (first time) worn that day are retained.

Form: 334221

Top And Drop¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 105

1/1

Chasing a hat-trick following victories over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (good-to-soft) in January and when dead-heating over 3m at Ffos Las (good-to-soft) last time out. One to note off a mark 5lb higher than for her latest success.

Form: 5/43P11

Maybe Plenty^p⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 96

7/2

Good third in a C&D handicap chase on soft ground in December. Subsequently finished 13L sixth over an extended 3m1f at Warwick (good-to-soft) in January and is interesting following a short break.

Form: P/2-P336

Oscar World^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Shoemark| T: M Keighley| OR: 92

12/1

Eight race maiden under Rules but ran well when 7L second in first time cheekpieces (retained) in a 2m4f handicap chase at Leicester (good-to-firm) last month. Stamina to prove stepping up in distance.

Form: 56-6672

Non-Runners

Hepburn¹⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: A Stronge J: Andrew Tinkler

Misty Mai¹⁸

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: D A Rees J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Top And Drop (1/1), Maybe Plenty (7/2), Silent Steps (13/2), Hepburn (13/2), Northern Beau (8/1), Cloone Lady (10/1), Misty Mai (10/1), Oscar World (12/1), Fille Des Champs (20/1)

TOP AND DROP looks capable of completing a hat-trick in this mares handicap chase. The selection represents a stable with a 24% strike-rate (5/21) in recent weeks and she can see off her rivals here with Northern Beau, the winner of a small field contest last time out capable of claiming second ahead of last years winner Misty Mai who races off a 9lb lower mark this time around.