Alliance Leisure Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 16.70s

Gentle Connections^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 119

6/1

Won 4 maiden/novice events between April and June. Not up to the Persian War here 18 days ago but may resume her progression now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 61-1116

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Rose Of Arcadia^t²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 113| D

5/6

Fairly useful hurdle winner. Easy winner of a couple of points under Freddie Gingell in the spring and she looks on a good mark back under Rules.

Form: 5/38411-

Mind Sunday²⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas| OR: 107

9/2

Newbury bumper winner and promising second to Shirocco's Dream on hurdle bow at Exeter last November. Left Nicky Henderson after 2 lacklustre runs later in the season but could easily bounce back now handicapping for new stable. All the more interesting if backed.

Form: 010/23P-

Chloe's Court^p,t¹⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 106

11/1

Won a Wincanton handicap under a sound tactical ride in March. Not disgraced in 2 subsequent starts last season but remains 4 lb above that winning mark on reappearance.

Form: 428164-

Makety²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 99

16/1

Former point winner who won a Worcester handicap chase last autumn. Has failed to build on that since and it remains to be seen if a return to hurdling sparks a revival.

Form: 21P-635

Astra Via^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 94| BF| C

10/1

Won a 2m handicap hurdle here last October and also scored over fences at Leicester (2½m) in March. Respectable third in a Ffos Las chase 16 days ago. Stamina to prove back hurdling.

Form: 214-233

Non-Runners

Shantou Sunset¹⁶³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Rose Of Arcadia (5/6), Mind Sunday (9/2), Gentle Connections (6/1), Shantou Sunset (6/1), Astra Via (10/1), Chloe's Court (11/1), Makety (16/1)

ROSE OF ARCADIA combined with today's rider Freddie Gingell to land a couple of points in the spring and is taken to make a successful return to hurdles off what looks a good mark on her best form. The prolific Gentle Connections will find this easier than the Persian War and is feared most ahead of handicap-debutante Mind Sunday.