14:15 Stratford

Sunday 23 April 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Grace And Dotty Mares' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 11.70s

Baby Sham¹⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 75

25/1

Fair Flat winner but hasn't matched that level over hurdles, finishing well held in a Fakenham handicap when last seen in October. Likely to find a few too strong.

Form: 36-6447

Blue Clover^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Ran poorly at Hereford last time but showed fair form when placed in her first 3 bumpers and those efforts suggest she should be up to making an impact in a race like this now hurdling.

Form: 3235

First Venture³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds

16/1

Narrow winner of sole start between the flags but has shaped like one with problems under Rules, achieving nothing in a distant third last time.

Form: 1-PP3

Forever A Dove¹⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: J Coulson

14/1

Runner-up in a brace of Southwell bumpers during the middle part of 2022. Disappointing effort when last seen in November and now goes hurdling.

Form: 2-26

Lady Gwen⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 93

11/8

Twice runner-up in similar company but she does need to shrug off some disappointing efforts this winter now back from a 3-month break.

Form: 2-52547

Pollyonesock²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alex Edwards| T: A Ralph

16/1

Modest form in bumpers. 28/1, unseated at first on recent Ludlow hurdle debut.

Form: 796U

Princess Poppy¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

20/1

Held in bumper/Exeter mares' maiden hurdle for Gary Moore and pulled up in a Market Rasen maiden on her recent yard debut. Still early days but that leaves her with a bit to prove.

Form: 77P

Somerway^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T R George

200/1

Has offered little in a bumper/2 hurdles this season.

Form: 09P

Ravi Road²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher

12/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and achieved very little in 2 hurdles in recent months (distant fourth last time).

Form: 64

Three Macks¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Cian Chester⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 93

2/1

Fair maiden on the Flat up to 7f for Andrew Oliver and has taken to hurdling pretty well for new yard, finishing second at Market Rasen a fortnight ago. This looks a good chance for her to go one better.

Form: 342

Non-Runners

Moirai²⁶

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: Miss A Murphy J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Lady Gwen (11/8), Three Macks (2/1), Ravi Road (12/1), Forever A Dove (14/1), Blue Clover (14/1), Pollyonesock (16/1), First Venture (16/1), Princess Poppy (20/1), Baby Sham (25/1), Moirai (33/1), Somerway (200/1)

This looks a decent opportunity for recent Market Rasen runner-up THREE MACKS to get off the mark. Blue Clover's peak bumper form suggests she can make her presence felt now hurdling and she's second choice ahead of Lady Gwen.