16:30 Taunton

Tuesday 21 February 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

Martyn Priddle Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 6m 12.30s

Shantou Sunset^p,t1²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99| D

20/1

Scored at Stratford last spring on final start for Philip Hobbs but hasn't covered herself in glory in 3 starts for present connections. Needs to get back on track now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: P-614P7

Coillte Eile⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 91| D

7/2

Took advantage of a falling mark on third run for current yard at Chepstow in November. Conditions were probably too testing next time and duly bounced back when scoring at Lingfield (23f, good) last week, winning in the style of one who should make a bold bid to follow up under a penalty.

Form: 3-96141

Kentford Mallard^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 92| D

16/1

Successful at Southwell off a 3 lb lower mark last summer and performed respectably when fourth of 11 over 16.5f here on penultimate start. Not so good at Huntingdon next time but couldn't completely rule out now moving back up in trip.

Form: 415U45

Fine By Her⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Smith| OR: 92

8/1

Opened account at Fakenham (23.4f, good) last May and left low-key reappearance behind when hitting the crossbar over the same C&D (soft) last month. 2 lb nudge fair enough and she has to enter calculations back on better ground.

Form: 25-5182

Hay There Mona^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 90

11/2

Has performed with credit in 2 of her 3 starts since switched to handicaps, most recently finishing fourth in an 11-runner Ffos Las (21.9f, heavy) contest in a first-time tongue strap (retained here). Doesn't look especially progressive but down another 1 lb and she's well worth a second look.

Form: 946-494

Dancingontheedge¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 89

15/8

All-the-way winner of a 2m Worcester bumper on debut last spring and best effort yet in this sphere when third at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) a fortnight ago. 2 lb lower here and promises to be suited by this stiffer test, so there is certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 1-57473

Little Else^t1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 87

6/1

Bumper winner at Chepstow in December 2020 but she hasn't made much of an impact in 4 starts since switched to this sphere. Now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 105/607

Gaia Vallis¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 86

33/1

Scored a couple of times last season but hasn't resumed in particularly good form this time round, well beaten when third on return at Leicester and subsequently pulled up at Fontwell.

Form: 1145-3P

Arctic Footprint^p1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 76

10/1

On a good mark judged on peak form a couple of seasons back but efforts since returning from a sizeable absence in December have not been at all inspiring. Hopes here pinned on the addition of cheekpieces helping to spark a revival.

Form: 445/8P4

Martha Burell^t⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 67WS

80/1

Little impact in 5 starts to date and she's 6 lb 'wrong' at the weights. Has undergone a wind op.

Form: P686P

Blue Suede Shoes^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 66

66/1

Down the field in a couple of bumpers for Dan Skelton and hasn't fared any better since tackling hurdles for new yard, including on recent handicap bow at Hereford. Cheekpieces now tried.

Form: 00-P005

Forecasts

Dancingontheedge (15/8), Coillte Eile (7/2), Hay There Mona (11/2), Little Else (6/1), Fine By Her (8/1), Arctic Footprint (10/1), Kentford Mallard (16/1), Shantou Sunset (20/1), Gaia Vallis (33/1), Blue Suede Shoes (66/1), Martha Burell (80/1)

This stiffer test promises to suit DANCINGONTHEEDGE, who was doing her best work at the finish when third behind a couple of improving types over 20.6f here a couple of weeks ago. She is in good hands and is probably on a good mark. Last week's decisive Leicester scorer Coillte Eile is an obvious danger, while Hay There Mona and Fine By Her both make each-way appeal.