Swan Hotel & Spa Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 3.3s

Our Kylie³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| D

6/1

Failed to reproduce her prolific hurdles/Flat form of 2016/17 of late despite slipping back down below her last winning mark. Left Brian Ellison (for £7,500) and joined current yard; ran poorly first time out for them (tame effort).

Form: 48/0268-

Graceland^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| DWS

2/1

Fair stayer on the Flat who got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles (went from the front). Disappointed on her hurdles debut at Huntingdon (unsuited by going right-handed); had wind op since but given a chance of a bounce back here.

Form: 3315-

Mega Double⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: James Moffatt| OR: 107

11/4

Local stable that are always to be respected here; laid a sound foundation over hurdles with two runner-up slots so far (bred to stay well). Flattered by her proximity to an easy winner last time but looks sure to show more going handicapping.

Form: P2622-

Cape Fair¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 102

6/1

Failed to impress in PTP's and hard to make much of a case for her on the evidence that she's shown so far with one piece of dubious for the handicapper to work with. Well held on her handicap debut; drops in trip now, one of the lesser lights.

Form: 9/F404-8

Millie The Minx³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 99| D

3/1

Found her form under today's promising conditional when taking back-to-back Sedgefield handicaps late last year. Confirmed herself back to form with a third (again at Sedgefield) last time; has to race from 5lb out of the handicap.

Form: 311F63-

Tickerty Boo¹⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 98

25/1

Form over hurdles can only be considered as modest so far and she returns to this sphere having failed to convince over fences. Makes her debut for a new yard (cost £5,000 from Brian Ellison); 6lb wrong in the weights and best watched.

Form: 5550F4-

Non-Runners

Duhallow Gesture³⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Duhallow Gesture (7/4), Graceland (2/1), Mega Double (11/4), Millie The Minx (3/1), Our Kylie (6/1), Cape Fair (6/1), Tickerty Boo (25/1)

Most of these look to face a stiff task given that three of them have to operate from out of the weights although Millie The Minx out of that trio shouldn’t be totally written off for a trainer (Dianne Sayer) who has a good record here and the rider (Danny McMenamin) is an obvious plus. Graceland having jumped left all the way last time will appreciate going back left-handed although MEGA DOUBLE appeals more with handicaps looking to be the sphere that will show her in a better light after some very sound novice runs; the James Moffatt yard always to be respected at their local track.