Signal 1 Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:50 | Winning time: 5m 16.1s

Slaine²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 110

13/2

Returns to handicap company having needed to show little improvement to get off the mark back in a novice hurdle last time scoring easily. That will have done her confidence good and she can still make her mark in handicaps off this sort of mark.

Form: F83-U91

Organdi¹⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 110

11/2

May need more of a test than this having looked to only get home narrowly when last seen in a Taunton novice (2m3f). Appeals as the type to do better in handicaps off this sort of mark but will it be enough of a test for her, that remains to be seen.

Form: 2841-

Takingitallin³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

9/4

Up in trip and making the running she looked a fairly straightforward sort when taking a Newton Abbot novice responding well to pressure over 2m6f. Looked as though a step up again would have suited; down 2f for handicap debut, trip may be too sharp.

Form: 1213-21

Amberose⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 107

15/2

Not in the same form as her last two starts when finding her stamina stretched over 3m last time at Perth. Better judged on her Carlisle win (2m1f) and Perth second (2m4f), still looks on a mark she can be competitive from back at this 2m4f distance.

Form: 52612-6

Big Penny^b²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 107| BF| D

9/2

Often follows a good run with a poor run and that's very much been the tone since she returned from a break having had some wind surgery. Back in headgear now (left off last time) having run a temperamental race last time (found little when asked).

Form: P4P3-48

Champagne To Go^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 104| D

5/1

Best form came when winning a Sedgefield handicap hurdle last November off a 1lb higher mark over this trip. Couple of creditable efforts since returning from a break (promised a little more than delivered last time); worth a second glance.

Form: 31P5-44

Ali The Hunter³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 93| BF

12/1

Shaped as if still in good form since showing winning form at Wincanton in May although that victory did come in a weak affair. Despite two solid starts since the handicapper looks to have quickly taken her measure off higher marks.

Form: 5P6-137

Forecasts

Takingitallin (9/4), Big Penny (9/2), Champagne To Go (5/1), Organdi (11/2), Slaine (13/2), Amberose (15/2), Ali The Hunter (12/1)

Quite an intriguing little event for punters to work out with none of the septet easy to leave out of calculations in this closing event. Both Organdi and Takingitallin appeal as the type to do better in handicaps and make their debuts in this sphere off competitive marks but the worry would be that this 2m4f trip is a little short for them. Champagne To Go and Big Penny have both looked on the last occasion that they were seen to promise a little more than they delivered and both need taking care with. Amberose will appreciate this trip more than the 3m last time but top weight SLAINE could well have more to offer returning to handicaps.