15:07 Leicester

Thursday 2 December 2021

All13:0713:3714:0714:3715:0715:37

Next Meeting Wednesday 15th December Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 3m 56.7s

Miss Mulligan^h1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: George Scott| OR: 99

9/2

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 1½m) and has offered plenty of encouragement when runner-up under positive rides on both hurdling outings to this point. Opening mark off 99 could prove lenient.

Form: 22

Esme Shelby²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98| BF

4/1

Made the frame again when finding only one too good at Hexham 27 days ago, and he's more than likely to give another good account. Vulnerable to more progressive rivals, though.

Form: 5-43322

West On Sunset³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 97

16/1

Clears signs of ability in bumpers and juvenile hurdles last season and stepped forward when third in novice at Plumpton on return. Potential for better still now handicapping off a reasonable mark.

Form: 0585-3

Born To Please^p¹⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss H C Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 97| D

16/1

Modest hurdler who was pulled up on her latest outing in this sphere and wasn't really on her game at Windsor on the Flat when last seen in June.

Form: 63263-P

Chantilly Haze¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 95

12/1

Modest form in bumpers/over hurdles. Solid showing when fourth in a novice at Ffos Las recently and the assessor has dropped her 4 lb since her handicap debut.

Form: 2-02274

Lexi's Choice^p1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 90

16/1

Well-bred Presenting mare who offered promise on first couple of hurdling outings but has been underwhelming since switched to handicaps. Further drop back in trip unlikely to suit. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 0337-9

Lime Drop²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 87| D

7/2

Low-mileage sort who confirmed previous encouragement when scoring in a handicap at Worcester 20 days ago, well on top at the finish. She's capable of following up.

Form: F949-61

Light Of Athena^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: R Harris| OR: 87

28/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who was well positioned when an improved third in an uncompetitive novice at Chepstow last time. Not certain to build on that switched to handicaps.

Form: 000/453

Lady De Vega^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: P R Webber| OR: 85| C

22/1

Modest Flat winner for Marco Botti. Yet to offer a great deal over hurdles but this first handicap outing presents a more realistic task.

Form: 95P-4

Infiniti¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: B Leavy| OR: 77| CD

7/2

2m winner in this sphere and was right back on her game when a strong-finishing (from a long way back) second at Market Rasen 14 days ago. Could make her presence felt in a well-run race.

Form: 15-5382

Forecasts

Lime Drop (7/2), Infiniti (7/2), Esme Shelby (4/1), Miss Mulligan (9/2), Chantilly Haze (12/1), Lexi's Choice (16/1), Born To Please (16/1), West On Sunset (16/1), Lady De Vega (22/1), Light Of Athena (28/1)

LIME DROP cruised round and was well on top at the finish when opening her account at Worcester last month and a 6-lb rise probably won't be enough to stop her going in again. Miss Mulligan is on an appealing opening mark based on Flat form and might pose the main threat, although improvement from West On Sunset can't be ruled out.