12:40 Sandown

Saturday 4 December 2021

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Racing Is Everyone's Sport Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 15.5s

Whitehotchillifili²⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 132| CD

10/1

Overcame a blunder 2 out when landing C&D mares listed event in January but struggled to make an impact thereafter, albeit in face of stiff task at Cheltenham in March. Needs to bounce back on return.

Form: 6/521P0-

Fable²⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

10/3

Irish point winner who made a bright start over hurdles last term, making it 2 wins from 3 starts in a Haydock mares' novice (3m) in March. Plenty more to come now handicapping.

Form: 1211-

Volkovka^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

7/1

Dual scorer last season who, in line with yard's good form found further improvement to go in again on return at Carlisle (17f) last month. Longer trip entitled to be within reach but this is tougher.

Form: 12313-1

Kissesforkatie¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: J Scott| OR: 125

7/1

Looked unlucky not to score at Wincanton (19.7f) last November and shaped as if she would come forward for last month's reappearance effort at Lingfield (19.5f). Claims from workable mark.

Form: 41F/93-6

Could Be Trouble^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| D

16/1

Rapid improver over hurdles for new yard, completing 4-timer in determined style at Bangor (19.5f) in October. Seemingly not 100% over fences since and bounce back distinctly possible back over timber

Form: 51-111P

Emmpressive Lady²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 122| CD

13/2

Progressive mare who doubled tally in this race last year before good second in Kempton handicap (3m) in December. Shorter trip caught her out at Haydock (18.8f) in April and no forlorn hope here.

Form: 6/41127-

Bourbon Beauty³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 120

12/1

Took significant step forward when landing valuable mares' handicap final at Newbury (20.5f) in the spring. Likely her return at Wetherby in October was needed and she remains pretty low mileage.

Form: 42131-0

Mrs Barnes²⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R T Phillips| OR: 118| D

22/1

Ask mare who built on hurdles debut promise when taking a Huntingdon mares' maiden (19.6f) in March. No match for Fable at Haydock but gets a handy weight pull with that rival now handicapping.

Form: 2/512-

Barely Famous¹⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Henderson| OR: 113| D

33/1

Didn't need to match previous best when off the mark in a Uttoxeter maiden (20f) in June. Clearly not 100% when tailed off in a match later that month but yard may hold stronger claims with Fable here

Form: 52-12

Ruby Yeats^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112

40/1

Landed 2m2f Exeter handicap in January but mixed record since, offering little on return from 7 months off at Fontwell (19.2f) 4 weeks ago. However, better showing anticipated in refitted cheekpieces

Form: 51630-4

Shirocco's Dream^t1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 111

4/1

£260,000 purchase who matched previous best in this sphere when landing an Exeter mares' novice (18.5f) last month, jumping superbly. Longer trip a plus now handicapping and she remains unexposed.

Form: 21/53-1

Shantung^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 107| D

20/1

Gained her first win since 2018 when bagging 2m Fakenham handicap in January. Not disgraced when fifth back there in March and another who should strip fitter for last month's Plumpton reappearance.

Form: 34215-7

Forecasts

Fable (10/3), Shirocco's Dream (4/1), Emmpressive Lady (13/2), Volkovka (7/1), Kissesforkatie (7/1), Whitehotchillifili (10/1), Bourbon Beauty (12/1), Could Be Trouble (16/1), Shantung (20/1), Mrs Barnes (22/1), Barely Famous (33/1), Ruby Yeats (40/1)

Unsurprisingly claims can be made for many in a cracking mares' handicap and it may pay to side with KISSESFORKATIE. It's likely her first start for 12 months was needed at Lingfield in November, and having looked unlucky not to win off this mark on her second start last term, all looks set fair for a big run. Shirocco's Dream, last year's winner Emmpressive Lady and Fable head up the dangers.