Every Race Live On Racing TV Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 27.73s

Methodtothemadness^h²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 116| CD

5/2

Showed her liking for C&D and conditions when staying on well to land novice hurdle last month. Handicap bow and has top weight to shoulder but should gve another good account of herself.

Form: FF32-31

Lily's Gem^t¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 111| CD

7/2

Yard won this race last year. Won bumper here in April of last year and showed pormise all three starts over hurdles last season. Returns from five-month absence but yard does well on forays this side of the Irish Sea so will not be far away.

Form: 21/643-3

Amberose¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 104| CD

15/8

5lb higher than C&D win in March and was good second after that at Perth of 1lb higher than today. First run since the summer but stable in good form and no surprise to see her right in the mix.

Form: 612-645

Lady Samback^t¹⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 95| CD

7/1

Scored over C&D in the spring off 13lb lower mark then followed up at Perth in May before failing in hat-trick bid back there in June off this mark. Yard having a good run, but usually needs a run or two to reach her peak.

Form: 2P21-16

Russian Royale¹⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 92| D

40/1

Seven-time winner but hasn't hit the target since Hexham in June 2018 and was well beaten in selling handicap hurdle last time. Groud may be an issue too as prefers a sound surface.

Form: 15465-4

Georgian Firebird^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: B Leavy| OR: 86

11/1

Both career wins have come when the mud was flying but without a victory since February 2016 Had wind surgery this summer and wasn't disgraced first start back but faces stiff task from 4lb out of the handicap.

Form: F22PP-7

Forecasts

Amberose (15/8), Methodtothemadness (5/2), Lily's Gem (7/2), Lady Samback (7/1), Georgian Firebird (11/1), Russian Royale (40/1)

The three at the top of the handicap may have this between them. Narrow preference is for Irish raider LILY'S GEM who makes her handicap debut and represents last year's winning stable. In-form Methodtothemadness won over C&D last time in novice company and also contests a handicap for the first time. She has plenty of weight but could still be improving and is feared. Amberose won over C&D last season and ran well at Perth after that. Her fine yard can get one ready so she too may be on the premises despite a summer break.