16:05 Hereford

Wednesday 17 February 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

bestbettingsites.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 54.20s

Coded Message^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-4| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 131

7/1

Pretty useful hurdler who performed with credit when third in 3m mares' handicap at Kempton over Christmas. Out of her depth in Grade 2 company next time and this is more realistic.

Form: P-0UP34

Dame du Soir²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 125| C

11/1

Winner over fences here last season and back on the scoresheet with a decisive victory in this sphere at Chepstow in January. Respectable third at Newbury since and she needs considering.

Form: F-UP213

Aimee De Sivola¹³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 122

9/2

Landed maiden hurdle at Warwick last October and ended season with good third in listed event at Doncaster (24.4f). However, needs to get back on track following a low-key reappearance.

Form: 12353-8

Legends Ryde^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 119

6/1

Won Ffos Las mares' novice last spring. Back to form when third on handicap debut at Ludlow (23.8f) 27 days ago and place possibilities off this 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 21-62P3

Trump Lady⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 118

20/1

Winning pointer who improved again to open his account at the third attempt over hurdles in a novice at Warwick (21f) on New Year's Eve. Handicapper has taken a rather dim view of that form, however.

Form: 31-0P41

Aurelia Or²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

7/2

Has progressed with each of her 3 starts over hurdles, fine third in a 15-runner Newbury novice (20.5f) last time. Mark for this handicap debut looks fair and she's high on the shortlist.

Form: 6533

Martha Brae^b1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 114

6/1

Fairly useful novice hurdler last season, but disappointing this time around and hopes pinned on first-time blinkers helping to spark a revival here.

Form: 22-8449

Royal Claret^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 104| CD

11/2

Not one for maximum faith, but she was successful over this C&D last season and her latest effort at Bangor was creditable. Possibilities if able to build on that back here.

Form: 21-5533

Forecasts

Aurelia Or (7/2), Aimee De Sivola (9/2), Royal Claret (11/2), Martha Brae (6/1), Legends Ryde (6/1), Coded Message (7/1), Dame du Soir (11/1), Trump Lady (20/1)

The most interesting of these is the unexposed AURELIA OR, who has progressed with each of her starts over hurdles and can be expected to take another step forward now upped in trip for this handicap debut. Dame du Soir is feared most ahead of Coded Message and the unreliable but capable Royal Claret.