19:00 Taunton

Thursday 27 April 2023

All17:2017:5018:2519:0019:3520:10

Run Rabbit Run Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:02 | Winning time: 6m 13.60s

Ma Belle Noire^p1,t¹²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 97

4/1

Runner-up at Ludlow (21.2f, heavy) on penultimate start and followed that with a respectable third of 10 over 19f at Fontwell, despite hanging. Down 1 lb and very much of interest back up in trip here with cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 442-523

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Makety⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 93

28/1

Landed a Worcester handicap chase in autumn 2021 but hasn't really built on that since and she's 0-14 in this sphere.

Form: 6353F6

Kentford Mallard^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 92| D

14/1

Successful at Southwell off a 3 lb lower mark last summer and back to that sort of level when second in a C&D handicap in February. Below par back here next time, though, and she's opposable on balance.

Form: 5U4527

Ballymilan^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91| D

33/1

Dual 23f chase winner early last summer but she's not the most reliable and pulled up both starts since returning from a break, including back hurdling at Wincanton last time. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 2753PP

Start Point^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 87

6/1

Modest form at best over hurdles and while she stepped up on her poor reappearance effort when third at Wincanton last month, others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 34F6-03

Little Else^t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 86WS

7/2

Bumper winner at Chepstow in December 2020 and posted by far her best effort yet over hurdles when fifth of 11 in a first-time tongue strap over C&D last time. Since undergone a wind op and wouldn't be without an each-way chance if she's benefited from that procedure.

Form: 05/6075

Danzini²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 84| D

11/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, good) last July. However. followed that with a tame effort at Worcester the following month and absent since.

Form: 34-2217

Gaia Vallis¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 82

13/2

Scored a couple of times last term and back in fair form the last twice, placed in handicaps at Stratford (2¾m, heavy) and Wincanton (19.8f, soft). Effective on good ground, too, and she's one to consider.

Form: 5-3P733

Sindabella²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 78

11/1

Some decent efforts to her name over hurdles but has been struggling for form of late and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 2P5P47

Can You See Her^h1³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 75

33/1

Placed sole start between the flags but no impact in 4 starts in this sphere to date and significant step forward needed now hooded for this handicap debut.

Form: 3-P60P

Rubys Reward^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 73

11/1

Landed a gamble for Anthony Honeyball at Fontwell this time last year but hasn't shown enough in 2 starts for new yard this season to suggest that further success is imminent.

Form: 1-50574

Universal Island^h1,t¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 70

12/1

Fair efforts on first 2 starts in handicap company but she was pulled up tried in a first-time tongue strap (retained) at Wincanton when last seen in December. Hood also enlisted here.

Form: U-4434P

Hazy Dream^t1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J Tickle| OR: 69

14/1

Remains a maiden following 8 attempts over hurdles and hardly shapes as though crying out for this step up in trip. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 2-863U5

Non-Runners

Fine By Her³⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: J S Smith J: Non Runner

Hey Frankie¹¹⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: M Scudamore J: Luca Morgan

Div Ine Tara¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Milanese Rose¹⁷⁶

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J: Harry Cobden

Forecasts

Little Else (7/2), Ma Belle Noire (4/1), Start Point (6/1), Milanese Rose (6/1), Gaia Vallis (13/2), Fine By Her (8/1), Hey Frankie (10/1), Div Ine Tara (10/1), Rubys Reward (11/1), Sindabella (11/1), Danzini (11/1), Universal Island (12/1), Kentford Mallard (14/1), Hazy Dream (14/1), Makety (28/1), Can You See Her (33/1), Ballymilan (33/1)

The addition of cheekpieces may help the lightly-raced MA BELLE NOIRE and she gets the nod in this open-looking handicap. Next on the list is Gaia Vallis, who has slipped to a tempting mark and her efforts in recent weeks have been more like it. Little Else is also worth a second look.