16:10 Musselburgh

Friday 26 March 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

ITM Northern Lights Mares' Hurdle Series Final (Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 54.75s

Hawthorn Cottage^v1³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy K Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 118

4/1

Ended last term with pair of wins at up to 20.5f and arrives here in good nick, travelling well before weakening after the last when fifth at Market Rasen latest. Visor now the headgear of choice.

Form: 1-003D5

Aurora Thunder³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

18/1

Pretty consistent performer who doubled career tally at Ayr (20.5f) in November. Not disgraced when midfield at Carlisle (19.3f) recently and return to this flatter track may well help.

Form: P-614P6

Methodtothemadness^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

11/1

Won Carlisle novice last autumn. Returned with good third at Hexham in September but not in the same form all 3 starts since, including after a break at Newcastle earlier this month.

Form: 82-3868

Amberose^v1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 103

20/1

Dual hurdles winner who performed with credit when third on return at Perth in September. Well held completed starts since, beaten when mistake 2 out at Ayr (21.4f) latest. Visor needs to perk her up.

Form: 38U508

Rubytwo^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 103| D

7/1

Justified crampeds when belatedly off the mark in a Newcastle mares' maiden (20.3f) in November. Not at best when midfield in 21.4f handicap at Ayr latest but bounce back certainly not ruled out.

Form: 221495

Calliope²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 102

6/1

Winner at Perth and Kelso at the end of last summer and C&D third here 23 days ago (on back of 5 months off) was a solid display. Arrives fresher than most and player under Brian Hughes.

Form: 121343

Gemologist^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 101

10/1

Remains a maiden but has plenty of fair efforts to her name over hurdles, runner-up 3 times over 2m prior to a good fourth over C&D last time. Each-way player.

Form: 52D224

Island Mahee⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 99

10/1

Showed improved form to hit the frame in trio of handicaps at upto 17f in Ireland late last year. Struggled to make an impact at Navan final start but freshened up since and revival not ruled out.

Form: 77-2330

Oksana^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 94

11/1

Scored at Market Rasen in September but only one effort of note since. Mark is falling all the time at least and the forecast better ground here may help.

Form: F86789

Millie The Minx^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 92| CD

4/1

Dual Flat winner last summer who confirmed run of good efforts over fences/hurdles when landing a C&D 23 days ago (Calliope placed third). Expected to be thereabouts again.

Form: 436331

Bowderek²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 88

14/1

Second in 2m Kelso novice hurdle in October but mixed bag has followed subsequently. Finished sixth in race won by Millie The Minx over C&D last time but more needed to figure from out of the weights.

Form: 3U2P46

Forecasts

Hawthorn Cottage (4/1), Millie The Minx (4/1), Calliope (6/1), Rubytwo (7/1), Island Mahee (10/1), Gemologist (10/1), Oksana (11/1), Methodtothemadness (11/1), Bowderek (14/1), Aurora Thunder (18/1), Amberose (20/1)

A wide-open affair with the vote in favour of CALLIOPE. She ran right up to her best returning from 5 months off when third behind re-opposing Millie The Minx over C&D 23 days ago and a 5 lb pull at the weights may be enough to swing the pendulum in her favour on this occasion. Rubytwo appeals as being on a workable mark and can also get involved.