Dunkeld House Hotel Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 3m 52.90s

Iconic Belle⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 105| D

5/2

Prominent racer; won on hurdles debut at Musselburgh (1m7½f, good) in November, beating today's rival West Coast Lass by a neck; back to that level of form over 2m4f latest when beaten 6L by I'm Too Generous.

Form: 14F442-

West Coast Lass^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 97

8/1

11-race hurdles maiden (beaten miles in a 2m mares' novices' here recently); hasn't kicked on positively in 2019 after some reasonable efforts in late 2018; weighted to beat Iconic Belle on 1m7½f Musselburgh form, but far from guaranteed to do so.

Form: 284503-

Missesgeejay³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 92

33/1

Back from a 2½ year absence in late 2018; remains a maiden over hurdles (0-5), dropping out rapidly on handicap debut at Warwick (2m, good) five-weeks ago; 4lb lower; very risky proposition.

Form: 45/7R59-

Lady Samback^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 89

13/8

Has raised her game since wind surgery and although still fairly limited in terms of ability, stayed on determinedly to break the maiden in a CJ's handicap at Carlisle (2m1f, good) latest; 7lb higher; key player.

Form: 442P21-

Steak And Spuds²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: R M Smith| OR: 85

5/1

Won three PTP's (all over 3m) in the spring of 2018; 0-12 under rules, including when finishing a weakening 11th of 14 to Shanroe Al Co over 3m here last month; down in trip and 5lb lower with Brian Hughes booked; chance.

Form: 457500-

Wise Coco^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 79

16/1

Yet to show even a glimmer of ability in 14 starts (all codes); 0-5 over hurdles; pulled up on soft ground at Hexham (2m4f) in November 2018; look elsewhere.

Form: 7/6407P-

Fillydelphia^h¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 79

12/1

Unseated Billy Garritty at the fifth flight at Musselburgh (2m, good) on her last hurdles start a couple of months ago; has made little impact on the Flat since and without a win anywhere since June 2016.

Form: 396P4/U-

Forecasts

Lady Samback (13/8), Iconic Belle (5/2), Steak And Spuds (5/1), West Coast Lass (8/1), Fillydelphia (12/1), Wise Coco (16/1), Missesgeejay (33/1)

A very winnable mares' handicap hurdle in which both the recent Carlisle winner Lady Samback and the prominent-racing Iconic Belle merit plenty of respect. However, it could be worth taking a real chance on the R Mike Smith-trained STEAK AND SPUDS. She is a three-time PTP winner who showed up well for a long way before weakening over 3m here last month. Dropped 5lb in the weights and considerably in trip, it's noteworthy that the North's leading rider Brian Hughes now takes over in the saddle.