Craig Tuohy's 40th Birthday Winner Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:54 | Winning time: 3m 59.60s

Progressive¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120| D

10/11

Back to form when third on her reappearance at Uttoxeter and built on that when making all in good style at Warwick (2m). 6 lb rise could have been worse and she's the one to beat.

Form: 1P48-31

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Merry Mistress¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd| T: David Dennis| OR: 110| D

5/1

Raised her game a touch when landing back-to-back mares' handicap hurdles at Doncaster and Wincanton during the spring. However, she was put in her place at Haydock when last seen in April and is probably a shade too hign in the weights for now.

Form: 432117-

Aliomaana^h¹²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 105| D

7/1

Hasn't made much of an impact since landing a mares' novice at Wincanton in March, but her mark is on the slide and this 4-y-o is by no means discounted here with the hood refitted. Yard also saddles Galah.

Form: 6156-54

Lady Jane P²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan| T: A Wintle| OR: 104

13/2

Fair bumper winner for Fergal O'Brien and positive start for this yard when runner-up on return at Newton Abbot (16.8f) last month. More needed in order to go one better here but she's hardly exposed.

Form: 10/223-2

Galah^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: M F Harris| OR: 97

33/1

Juvenile winner at Doncaster last season and seemingly back on track when a good second at Newton Abbot early last month. However, beaten a long way behind Progressive at Warwick recently and Mitchell Bastyan prefers Aliomaana.

Form: 53-5284

My Little Toni^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 94

15/2

Hasn't had much racing over hurdles and didn't need to improve to comfortably open her account in a 3-runner novice at Sedgefield last month. Wasn't disgraced when fourth of 14 at the same course recently but this looks tougher.

Form: 436214

Forecasts

Progressive (10/11), Merry Mistress (5/1), Lady Jane P (13/2), Aliomaana (7/1), My Little Toni (15/2), Galah (33/1)

Given the manner of her recent all-the-way success at Warwick, PROGRESSIVE should be capable of defying a 6 lb rise in the weights. Lady Jane P still has low mileage and needs a second look but Aliomaana has slipped to an attractive mark and she is feared most.