15:40 Uttoxeter

Sunday 24 November 2019

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Abacus Decorators Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 16.3s

Fejoada^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-2| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 121

12/1

Won over fences at Vittel (France) for Emmanuel Clayeux prior to joining Robert Walford; no match for the 19L winner Floressa (has run well at Newbury since) in a 2m mares' novices' at Worcester last month; tough enough mark?

Form: 0-4612

Song Of The Sky^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 117| D

13/8

Beaten less than 5L by Sweet Adare in a Class 4 mares' handicap hurdle at Stratford (2m, soft) on her penultimate start; ready 15L winner over fences at Lingfield (2m, heavy) subsequently; one to consider.

Form: 743221

The Crazed Moon^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 111| CD

20/1

Progressive for Henry Oliver last season, winning three on the bounce (including twice here) between December and January; out of her depth in a Listed contest on recent stable/chasing debut; 6lb above her last winning mark.

Form: 51115-4

Princess Mononoke²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

4/1

Boasts a 25% strike-rate over hurdles (4-16) and clearly appreciates soft/heavy ground; 2lb above her last winning mark (April 2018); posted a solid display on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) three weeks ago; one to consider.

Form: 211/35-4

Hope's Wishes¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: David Bass| T: F Brennan| OR: 100| D

16/1

3lb higher than when successful at Plumpton (2m, soft) in February - beat Riviere Argentee by a short-head; beaten when falling at the fourth last fence on seasonal reappearance at Ludlow; swiftly reverts to hurdles; others preferred.

Form: 42176-F

Astra Via³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 95

11/4

Lightly raced (0-5); beaten 8L by Tigeralley on handicap debut in an identical C&D mares' event (heavy) in March; never involved on return to action here 37 days ago (seventh of 12 to Percy Thrower); could potentially fare better.

Form: 0422-7

Born To Please^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher| OR: 95

11/1

Won three times on the Flat, including in a Class 6 gentleman amateur riders' handicap at Nottingham (1m2f, soft) in October; 4lb lower than for her last attempt at hurdling (Huntingdon, 2m4½f).

Form: 00279-

Non-Runners

Rubytwo²³

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Song Of The Sky (13/8), Astra Via (11/4), Princess Mononoke (4/1), Rubytwo (4/1), Born To Please (11/1), Fejoada (12/1), Hope's Wishes (16/1), The Crazed Moon (20/1)

An open finale in which plenty enter the reckoning, including Rubytwo, Song Of The Sky and the top-weight Fejoada. Two of those mares have seen their most recent efforts franked since (by No Trumps and Floressa), while the Charlie Mann-trained runner hacked up over fences on heavy ground at Lingfield (2m) 12 days ago. However, a tentative each-way alternative is the Donald McCain-trained PRINCESS MONONOKE who boasts a 25% strike-rate over hurdles (4-16), is strongest against her own sex on soft ground (at or around 2m) and ran perfectly respectably when fourth of 14 to Frightened Rabbit on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) three weeks ago.