Welcome To Hexham 2021 Conditional Jockeys' Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 4m 23.84s

Lady Villanelle⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell| T: D W Whillans| OR: 110| BF| CD

9/4

Stepped up on bumper exploits when winning a C&D novice hurdle on return in November and similar form when third under a penalty at Musselburgh thereafter. Claims now handicapping.

Form: 24-13

West End Lady⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110

5/1

Promise in a couple of heay ground C&D mares' novice events but never pose a threat on handicap debut at Kelso (18f) in December. However, it remains early days and freshened up since.

Form: P-336

Red Reminder³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 105

4/1

Dual winner of novice hurdles last season. Largely underwhelming efforts in handicaps this term but mark is easing all the time and arrives fit from a spin in a jumpers bumper last month.

Form: 8P3388

Gamesters Icon^p,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Turner⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103

9/4

Fair Flat winner who ran best race over hurdles when 6 lengths second at Uttoxeter (15.7f) in February. Disappointed at Carlisle (19.3f) last week but not one to write off on balance.

Form: D3326

Melanamix¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 102

11/1

Irish point winner who showed promise initially over hurdles around the turn of the year. Pulled up on handicap debut at the start of the month and she needs to get back on track here.

Form: D2134P

Soft Summer Rain^b1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: C Brassil| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 94

50/1

Some promise in trio of juvenile hurdle events in 2019. Easy to back and well held on handicap debut 13 months ago but should be sharper for spin on Flat recently. Market should guide. Blinkered.

Form: 5P70-

Russian Royale^p⁸⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Aidan Macdonald⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78| CD

22/1

Last success came over C&D back in 2018 but more miss than hit since, finding extended 15f an inadequate test at Musselburgh in December. Work to do to feature.

Form: 6-60965

Forecasts

Gamesters Icon (9/4), Lady Villanelle (9/4), Red Reminder (4/1), West End Lady (5/1), Melanamix (11/1), Russian Royale (22/1), Soft Summer Rain (50/1)

LADY VILLANELLE got off the mark with minimum fuss on hurdles debut over C&D in November and ran to a similar level when third behind an upwardly mobile sort at Musselburgh since. Handicaps are entitled to be more her bag and she earns the vote. Gamesters Icon and Red Reminder head up the dangers in the opener.