16:40 Newton Abbot

Wednesday 5 May 2021

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:0716:40

Watch Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 4m 32.40s

Minnie Escape^b⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 105

12/1

Temperamental sort who scored at Stratford and posted excellent second of 18 in handicap at Ludlow 4 weeks ago. Highly capable if arriving here in same groove.

Form: 915/142-

Howdilyoudo^t1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102

18/1

Has offered something to work on in a bumper/2 novice hurdles, but handed a stiff enough mark. Not entirely disgraced at Plumpton early last month and she remains pretty low-mileage.

Form: 3/43P3-

Sainte Doctor^t1⁴²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 102WS

9/1

€105,000 purchase having won on Flat in France and shaped well first 2 starts for new yard. Not so good at Taunton last year, including on handicap bow, but had wind op and now tongue tied on return.

Form: 15486/

She's A Novelty^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 99

7/2

Fair maiden on the Flat. Ran creditably when fifth of 12 in a course handicap (16.7f) in April, noted keeping on and a repeat at this longer trip gives her claims.

Form: 247665-

To Fly Free^p,t⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: D Pipe| OR: 104WS

14/1

Flat maiden winner in France and took juvenile hurdle for this yard in the autumn. Below best on Flat/ in jumpers bumper since but undergone wind surgery ahead of this. One to note in the betting.

Form: 233140-

Dylan's Sea Song⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher| OR: 91| BF

6/1

Improved to get off the mark at Southwell (15.8f) in November and plenty of creditable efforts have followed, 6 lengths fourth of 13 at Stratford (2m) in March. Each-way claims.

Form: 124854-

Astra Via^p,t1⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 90

33/1

Fitted with first-time cheekpieces when making third chase start a winning one at Sedgefield, but not got close to that level either start since. Tongue tie now on back hurdling.

Form: 7/7P1P8-

Fleursals^p⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 90

14/1

Maiden who looked set to confirm her return to form prior to falling 2 out at Southwell (20.4f) in March (might have made the frame). Not discounted back down in trip in an ordinary affair.

Form: 47/575F-

Kentford Mallard²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 87

9/2

Reacted positively to cheekpieces when runner-up over 2m at Chepstow in October. Mixed bag since but step back in right direction when third at Plumpton (20.5f) recently. Not discounted.

Form: 2D7873-

Poet's Reflection²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 82| D

15/2

Got the job done at the ninth attempt over hurdles when accounting for 12 rivals at Taunton (19f, good) in March. Subsequent Chepstow fourth was below that level though and bounce back required.

Form: 4/5P414-

Autumn Gold⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 80

33/1

Achieved little in mares' maiden/novice hurdles and unable to sustain her effort when well held ninth on handicap debut at Taunton (23.9f) in February.

Form: 0/PP599-

Little Peachey¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 76

14/1

Best effort yet when 5 lengths fifth of 13 at Taunton (19f) on her penultimate start in March but not in the same form back there last month. Another operating from out of the weights.

Form: 0PP758-

Cucumber Gin^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 66

66/1

No show in maiden/novice hurdles and similarly well held on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (15.7f) in March. No easy task on here operating from 13 lb out of the weights.

Form: 98/P87-

Forecasts

She's A Novelty (7/2), Kentford Mallard (9/2), Dylan's Sea Song (6/1), Poet's Reflection (15/2), Sainte Doctor (9/1), Minnie Escape (12/1), Fleursals (14/1), Little Peachey (14/1), To Fly Free (14/1), Howdilyoudo (18/1), Astra Via (33/1), Autumn Gold (33/1), Cucumber Gin (66/1)

A competitive finale in which it may pay to take a chance on the returning SAINTE DOCTOR. She didn't kick on from her initial promise early last year but returns with her yard going nicely and it would come as no surprise to see a better showing in a first-time tongue tie. Minnie Escape and She's a Novelty are others to consider, along with Kentford Mallard.