14:15 Newcastle

Saturday 18 December 2021

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

bet365 Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 5m 2.73s

Gelboe De Chanay³⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Haslam| OR: 120| CD

10/1

Took time to find his feet for present yard but justified market strength when landing a C&D handicap 12 months ago, with loads to spare. 13 lb higher on return and betting may prove a useful guide.

Form: 000931-

Fiadh¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: C Grant| OR: 113| CD

9/1

Bumper winner who landed a weak C&D mares' maiden hurdle last month. Creditable third under a penalty at Kelso (20.8f) subsequently and switch to handicaps rates more suitable now.

Form: U-31213

West End Lady¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| D

8/1

Off 5 months before opening account in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Hexham in October. Not disgraced either start in novice company since and no reason why she won't go well again.

Form: 633-124

Off The Hook^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 108| BF| D

13/2

Losing run is mounting up but she arrives here having run well re-united with present stable when third at Ayr (20.5f) last month. May have tightened up a little for that

Form: 75347-3

Headscarf Lil⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 99| D

10/3

Back on the scoresheet when getting on top close home over 2½m at Carlisle in October. Matched that when third over extended 3m there since and sound each-way claims again.

Form: 236513

Rubytwo^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Galligan⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 97| CD

7/2

Bounced back to best in first-time blinkers when beaten only by an improver at Sedgefield (19.8f) 3 weeks ago. 2-lb rise shouldn't prevent another good showing. Respected.

Form: 52-2762

Sophie Olivia⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 96| D

9/2

Winning hurdler/chaser, but very lightly-raced in recent years and she failed to live up to market expectations on return/debut for new yard at Hexham (16.2f) last month.

Form: 25F/PP-8

Lissen To The Lady^p1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss J Walton⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 89

18/1

Kelso winner in May who ran better than on return when midfield in a 12-runner handicap here (23.7f) last month, running on. However, drop back in trip may not help on evidence of that run.

Form: 13-1486

Forecasts

Headscarf Lil (10/3), Rubytwo (7/2), Sophie Olivia (9/2), Off The Hook (13/2), West End Lady (8/1), Fiadh (9/1), Gelboe De Chanay (10/1), Lissen To The Lady (18/1)

A winner of a C&D mares' maiden, RUBYTWO returned to form in first-time blinkers when runner-up in a Sedgefield handicap 3 weeks ago and she's fancied to go well again from a 2 lb higher mark. Gelboe de Chanay, who scored easily over C&D 12 months ago, and Headscarf Lil are others to consider.