15:10 Market Rasen

Thursday 21 November 2019

All12:2513:0013:3514:0514:4015:1015:40

Pertemps Education Network Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 4m 30.60s

Ulysses¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 102

28/1

Scored at Stratford (2m6f, good) in August, when with Dan Skelton. 11lb higher now, and well beaten here on his debut for this trainer recently. Plenty to prove now dropped to the minimum trip.

Form: 3-12255

Nefyn Point¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100

6/1

Placed in a bumper (soft) and twice over hurdles (good) at up to 2m4f. Would have claims from this mark if anywhere near the form of his best couple of runs, but needs to be much better than on his recent reappearance.

Form: 3/3537-7

Canny Style^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 100| D

25/1

Dual hurdles winner (on good/good to soft) at up to 2m1f. 5lb lower than the more recent of those wins at Sedgefield a year ago. Lost his way after that, but back on a dangerous mark and has run well fresh. Interesting.

Form: 14F86-6

Christmas In Usa^t,v⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 98| D

4/1

Won a couple of times earlier in the year, and after a pipe-opener for this season, he was back to winning ways again at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) last time, a performance which he has bettered only once before. Unpenalised for that. Big player.

Form: 4112-81

Hermanus^p³⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 96| D

20/1

2-17 over hurdles, having scored back-to-back at Cartmel and Bangor in summer 2018, on good. 2lb lower than the more recent of those here. Has a 12-month absence to overcome, but has won when fresh. Market check.

Form: 130558-

Head Lad⁹¹

11/8

11-race maiden (runner-up twice last autumn, including from this mark). Has had wind surgery and also left Jonjo O'Neill since his most recent start. No surprise to see him make an impact, but clearly needs to have improved for surgery to score.

Form: 26B7-54

Thomas Blossom^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Harper| OR: 88| D

28/1

2-12 in this discipline, having scored twice at Exeter on a sound/fast surface. 7L second over fences from this mark last time out at Hereford, but while he can't be written off, soft ground is a concern.

Form: 922452

Miss Amelia²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 85| CD

13/2

Placed twice from seven attempts over hurdles, and won here over fences (2m1f, good to soft) in February, when 7lb lower. Returned from a break to be a close third over hurdles at Southwell (1m7½f, soft) last time. Up 5lb, so more needed.

Form: 142-463

Mandarin Princess¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 83

66/1

0-20 career record under both codes and has yet to make the frame. Others preferred.

Form: 066757

Scrutinise^p³²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 81WS

12/1

Dual 1m4f turf winner on the Flat, but 0-10 over hurdles, where he has yet to finish in the first three. Returns from wind surgery here, but can only watch.

Form: P60/870-

Port Lairge²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Pte Alexandra Bell⁽⁷⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 70

100/1

Multiple Flat winner, but yet to finish in the money from 13 hurdles starts. Readily opposed.

Form: 9/60856-

Forecasts

Head Lad (11/8), Christmas In Usa (4/1), Nefyn Point (6/1), Miss Amelia (13/2), Scrutinise (12/1), Hermanus (20/1), Canny Style (25/1), Ulysses (28/1), Thomas Blossom (28/1), Mandarin Princess (66/1), Port Lairge (100/1)

A tough race to call and the tentative suggestion is CANNY STYLE, who is on a handy mark and has run well when fresh before. Head Lad may be capable of better after a change of scenery and wind surgery, while Hermanus is also of interest on his return from a year off, and money for her might hint at some confidence. Christmas In Usa clearly looks a big player on recent form, and Miss Amelia has each-way claims.