Evie Primrose Wood Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 3.2s

Graceland^h⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| D

2/1

Useful Flat stayer; gradually found her form over hurdles despite still having a little to learn about jumping (can also race freely). Won both starts since wind surgery under today's rider; goes well left-handed, has a good chance to defy penalty.

Form: 3315-11

Cardigan Bay^h,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117| CD

9/2

2-2 over C&D having bounced back from a modest effort sandwiched between those two victories. Dictated last time (may find competition if those tactics are tried again); up a further 4lb in a tougher heat; needs to find further progress.

Form: 32315-1

Henrietta Bell³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 112| CD

11/4

Confirmed the promise of her previous run when taking a mares' C&D maiden hurdle (weak contest) last time. Needs to take another step forward against some in-form types going hurdling for the first time off a mark that only looks fair.

Form: 2/434-21

Ena Baie^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H Fry| OR: 108

3/1

Took a Grade 3 bumper when trained in France; gradually getting the hang of hurdles; made steady progress in two runs since a wind op. Wouldn't have been suited by the pace scenario last time (hood on first-time); chance if getting gallop to aim at.

Form: 214/4-2

Sue Be It³⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 107| D

25/1

Took two races around this time last year finally getting off the mark in a Towcester handicap, following up under a penalty (Stratford novice); left clear at the last. Presented with a tough test returning from a break, beaten off this mark before.

Form: 2553/11-

Chequered View¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley| OR: 106| CD

7/1

Took a couple of races late last year the first a C&D mares' novice (won with a bit in hand) before taking a weak handicap chase at Fakenham when last seen. Open to some improvement but this is tougher; has an absence to cope with, more needed.

Form: 0/31831-

Non-Runners

Dieu Benisse⁴¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: P A Kirby J: Thomas Dowson

Shufoog²⁶

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: M D I Usher J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Graceland (2/1), Henrietta Bell (11/4), Ena Baie (3/1), Cardigan Bay (9/2), Chequered View (7/1), Dieu Benisse (7/1), Shufoog (14/1), Sue Be It (25/1)

A competitive heat with six of the eight runners winning last time out and the two that didn’t running fair races to fill the runner up slot. Hard to leave anything out of the equation but GRACELAND is taken to defy her penalty with the McCain yard in good form and this sharp left-handed track taken to suit her. Cardigan Bay and Henrietta Bell should be respected on their C&D victories although both will find this a tougher task. Phil Kirby does well with new recruits and it won’t be a surprise to see his stable newcomer Dieu Benisse show further progress on her handicap debut. Being held up in a slowly run race didn’t suit Ena Baie last time given an even gallop she has to go close.